What is the difference between a sheriff and police department? Do they govern different things and have completely separate powers? Does one have more jurisdiction over another and what happens when it comes to committing a criminal offence?
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It’s different in each state. In MA the sheriffs are basically responsible for frogmarching you into court and railroading you into jail. They can probably pull you over for speeding but they don’t because they’re busy carting busloads of your deviant friends.
Making up ticky-tack motor infractions and planting narcotics in your car is up to local PD on surface roads and Staties on highways (including smaller surface highways). Transit cops can also harass you for traffic infractions in their areas, but they wouldn’t be the ones to investigate you knocking over a liquor store. They’ll use you for a kicking circle if you try to escape in the subway though.
In many other states the Sheriffs will absolutely make an example of you for stuff like jaywalking. So just don’t do any of that stuff.
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