eli5 What’s the difference between a police officer and a sheriff?

Question

eli5 What’s the difference between a police officer and a sheriff?

In: 146

Answer 1

I can only speak to my state (Virginia, USA), but my understanding is that it’s not too different in other US States.

The Sheriff is an elective position, and the police chief isn’t.

In my area, the Sheriff’s office deals more with the functions of the judiciary (Bailiffs, prisoner transport to and from court, etc) and more specialized policing, while police do the ‘day to day’ law enforcement.