I do see a lot of police on street, but sometimes I see sheriff. are they doing the same job?
what's the difference between sheriff and police?
A sheriff is the highest law enforcement position that actually patrols (I think) and is typically elected.
A sheriff is a police officer, but not all police officers are sheriffs.
In the US a sheriff is generally the highest, usually elected, law enforcement officer of a *county*. Police officers who work for an agency headed by a sheriff are called deputy sheriffs or sheriff's deputies.
In the US a sheriff is generally the highest, usually elected, law enforcement officer of a *county*. Police officers who work for an agency headed by a sheriff are called deputy sheriffs or sheriff's deputies.
Where I live (LA county), sheriffs are the county police, and police who work for city police departments are just called police officers. Some cities contract with the county sheriffs rather than run their own police department, though.
Usually, sheriffs work with departments that oversee rural areas in a county.
Police can work either in cities or in rural areas; it's a general term.
Police can work either in cities or in rural areas; it's a general term.