As with everything else in America, this varies not only from state to state, but also from town to town. In metropolitan counties, the sheriff's department generally runs the jail and does process serving, among other duties. In the modern day, sheriffs tend to use their guns a lot less. Outside of the US, a sheriff is normally a ceremonial post in Scotland they are judges. Perhaps the most famous Sheriff is the Sheriff of Nottingham. The position had similar duties and powers, but was appointed by the Crown. The name is derived from the English "shire reeve", corrupted to "sheriff" over time. ![]() Also see The Drifter for more detail on this. It's up to the new guy to avoid getting killed, beat the villain, then move on. This invariably means there's a villain (an Outlaw or a old-west-style Corrupt Corporate Executive) in town who has run off or killed the old sheriff and is terrorizing the townspeople, stealing cattle, cheating at poker, and probably not paying his brothel bill. A Real Life example of a non-gunfighter sheriff was Bat Masterson, who preferred the "big stick" approach.Īs a stock plot, The Gunslinger (sometimes, the Young Gun, but if so he'll have his more experienced advisor with him) comes into town, and is immediately appointed The Sheriff by the townspeople. In westerns, this character often overlaps with The Gunslinger, though this is not always the case. If the sheriff is ever disgraced or otherwise found to be morally unworthy of his title, the customary action is for The Hero to shoot a hole through this badge, symbolic of the title being stripped. A corrupt sheriff, however, can have influence over a weak mayor. ![]() And the sheriff usually is not the highest authority he is actually appointed by and answers to an Ultimate Authority Mayor, who may occasionally be a Corrupt Politician. In most works of fiction, the sheriff wears a distinct badge, usually star-shaped. It's a very lucrative and powerful (within the county) position, but also comes with great danger and responsibility. Their function in a story is very flexible, ranging from The Hero through Reasonable Authority Figure and Obstructive Bureaucrat to Corrupt Hick. In a Western, the Sheriff is generally the closest and main law enforcer. Sheriffs and their agencies have the most influence in areas without a local police force, so expect to see them in rural areas or Small Towns. It is usually an elected position, though in emergencies a sheriff may be appointed by county officials. ![]() In the United States, a sheriff is generally the chief law enforcement officer for a county or parish.
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