Your Jefferson County Sheriff Department, hard @ work

[Robin Garr]

Actually you are talking about the Greene brothers "Special Deputies".

Bill, that's a really good example of it, taken to the extreme. Even before the Greenes, though, while not so blatant, "deputy sheriffs" and "Democratic poll workers" were pretty much overlapping universes.

Out here in the country the sheriff are the "police" unless you call the state police. We elect our sheriff and then they hire their deputies. Our officers take the same training as any other cop in the state would. They spend a fair amount of time at the police academy. We know a guy who just went through this not long ago and I can say confidently its no walk in the park.
I know things out here in the sticks are different, but our sheriffs actually work hard.In addition to serving warrants and collecting taxes these guys bust meth labs,work domestic abuse calls,break ins,burglaries,suicides,murders,car accidents and a myriad of other issues. While I have never been a huge "fan" of cops, after living out in the country and seeing what these guys do(without the comfort of having a back up unit close by) I have a lot of respect.

Out here in the country the sheriff are the "police" unless you call the state police. We elect our sheriff and then they hire their deputies. Our officers take the same training as any other cop in the state would. They spend a fair amount of time at the police academy. We know a guy who just went through this not long ago and I can say confidently its no walk in the park.
I know things out here in the sticks are different, but our sheriffs actually work hard.In addition to serving warrants and collecting taxes these guys bust meth labs,work domestic abuse calls,break ins,burglaries,suicides,murders,car accidents and a myriad of other issues. While I have never been a huge "fan" of cops, after living out in the country and seeing what these guys do(without the comfort of having a back up unit close by) I have a lot of respect.

John,
That's pretty much how it is in Indiana as well. The Sheriff Department is law enforcement unless you live in an incorporated area. As you said, I have a lot of respect for these deputies as well.

[Robin Garr]

Out here in the country the sheriff are the "police"

Granted. It's a different situation in the urban area where the city and county (now metro) police are presumably well trained and supervised. I have similar reservations about small-city cops in metro Louisville, by the way. I think doorknob-rattlers would be fine in 125-house subdivisions, but full-time police in uniform with police cars? I've covered too many little cities as a reporter and seen how they're run to feel real comfortable about that.

That's pretty much how it is in Indiana as well. The Sheriff Department is law enforcement unless you live in an incorporated area. As you said, I have a lot of respect for these deputies as well.

As Robin points out - there's a difference between urban/unincorporated areas - but the same bottom line exists: when a person in power decides to abuse that power, it reflects poorly on the whole group. I'm positive these officers of the law are not just fine people but also assets to the communities they serve. There's always that bad apple though that thinks because he/she has a gun, uniform, and badge that his/her authority knows no bounds.

Out here in the country the sheriff are the "police"

Granted. It's a different situation in the urban area where the city and county (now metro) police are presumably well trained and supervised. I have similar reservations about small-city cops in metro Louisville, by the way. I think doorknob-rattlers would be fine in 125-house subdivisions, but full-time police in uniform with police cars? I've covered too many little cities as a reporter and seen how they're run to feel real comfortable about that.

The small-city cops around here have limited power (have radar gun, will use!), while those in actual small-city systems have absolute jurisdiction over all crimes. In other words, I'm glad there seem to be agreements that the LMPD will take charge when major crimes happen. I'd hate to see one of these small-city tropes run a murder investigation!

If "rich" people want to pay increased taxes to hire Barney Fife, well that's their doing. They'll surely call LMPD when the going gets tough.

From long ago experience, I know for sure that the sheriffs department use to have the ability to "Fix"
tickets and clear up those pesky DUI's. And for that I am guilty, I mean grateful. I think this is what Robin was referring to as those politically motivated gift jobs given out in the past. Most of this went on in the sheriffs department. The Sheriff also ran the jail at night, which I never quite understood. Bill

As one who lives in a Class Six "Small" City, I like the fact that we have our own little police force. We have a lot of children in our neighborhood and it seems like everyone has a dog they enjoy walking in the evening. Because there are hardly any sidewalks where I live, I'm glad they are out there "slowing down" traffic on the through streets with their presence.
BTW after the unfortunate death of Officer Randy Wells, we now have contracted a few LMPD officers to patrol and protect our little 200 house city.