W
HAT
THE
J
OBS
A
RE
27
DEPUTY SHERIFF
The majority of counties throughout the United States have the constitutional office of Sheriff, which, in
varying degrees, has responsibility for county policing, jails, and court activities. Most sheriffs' agencies
provide full police services, but in some counties where Sheriffs do not have patrol and investigative
functions, these functions are performed by either independent county police forces or state police
agencies. Depending on the size of the county and the extent of its legal obligations, county sheriffs'
departments employ forces of uniformed Deputy Sheriffs to meet these responsibilities.
Duties of the Job
Deputy Sheriffs are county law enforcement officers who patrol assigned districts within their jurisdic-
tions to enforce federal, state, and local laws, to investigate crimes, and to maintain the peace. While
patrolling assigned areas, they observe persons and conditions for evidence of suspicious or criminal
activities based on their observations or in response to radio calls from superior officers. They detain and
question suspects or apprehend and arrest suspects at crime scenes or after pursuit, either alongside or with
the assistance of backup units and with the use of physical force or firearms when necessary. They advise
suspects of their constitutional rights at the time of arrest and escort them to department headquarters for
booking and confinement to jail prior to arraignment in court. Deputies may also transport suspects
between courtrooms, jail, district attorneys' offices, and medical facilities or may act as extradition
officers escorting wanted persons back across state lines to stand trial. Investigating, assuming control
at scenes of accidents, administering first aid to the injured, and radioing for ambulance and emergency
vehicles are also part of the job. Other duties include issuing citations for traffic violations on county
roads, performing traffic control duties in designated geographic areas, and maintaining order during
public demonstrations and parades and in emergency situations such as natural disasters, riots, or civil
disorders. Some Deputies are given criminal investigation assignments in which they work as plain-
clothes officers and investigate cases involving vice, narcotics and dangerous drugs, juvenile offenses,
fugitives from justice, burglaries, stolen vehicles, assaults, homicides, and missing persons. Some
Deputies also enforce laws in county and state parks and game reserves, including environmental, fish,
and game laws. Specially trained Deputies may also be part of special weapons attack teams, hostage-
negotiation teams, search-rescue units, and sniper-suppression teams used during specified emergency
situations. Occasionally, they may perform the duties of radio dispatcher and broadcast orders to patrol
units in the various sectors to investigate complaints received from the public as well as instructions from
the watch commander to patrol units in the field. Regardless of assignment, all Deputy Sheriffs are
required to prepare daily written reports of work activities during tours of duty, maintain accurate police
records, and be prepared to testify during court proceedings if necessary.
In addition to patrol, criminal investigation, and traffic duties, some Deputy Sheriffs have unique
responsibilities related to the county court system. They serve civil papers and orders of the court such
as subpoenas, garnishments, property executions, arrest orders, and show-cause orders to individuals.
They serve warrants, evict persons from property, and confiscate real or personal property as designated
by court order. In addition, assignments dealing with security in county jails and courts involve guarding
court facilities, searching the premises, and questioning people entering jails and courts to verify
credentials. In instances in which the law is broken, Deputies arrest individuals and summon patrol units
to assume custody of prisoners.
