Some people may assume that the police department and the sheriff’s office are the same. Actually, there are certain differences that you should know so that you would not get too confused. One of the main differences in the areas where they can be found. The sheriff’s office would be available for certain areas or subdivisions within a bigger area.
This means that it does not cover areas that are as big as the areas that are covered by the police department. The police department does not only hold jail services, but it can also provide other services and assistance to those who are in need. They will have more tasks and responsibilities to do as compared to the sheriff.
The sheriff dept is a law enforcement agency, just as the police dept, but operates on a wider ground compared to the police dept. The sheriff enforces law at the level of a county or a particular subdivision in a state, while the police operate in a village or town, in a municipality or specific city. Both the sheriff and police departments offer services to their various jurisdictions, such as ensuring the safety of lives and properties, but the sheriff dept operates as a coroner's office, whereby deaths that demand for investigation is received.
The sheriff dept was set up by the state constitution, while the police dept was set up under the municipal regulations. Sheriff officials are elected, unlike the police chiefs who are appointed. However, for different countries, the two departments wear different uniforms. In addition, there seems to be a higher number of employed police officers than sheriff officers.