SERIES: Who’s Really in Charge?

A breakdown of the local roles shaping our schools, safety, and everyday life.

Who’s Really in Charge of Public Safety?

When people think “public safety,” they usually think laws passed in Washington or something they see on the news. But the truth is, public safety is shaped much closer to home by someone most people only think about once every four years, if that.

The sheriff.

What Does a Sheriff Actually Do?

The sheriff isn’t just another law enforcement title. This role has real power over how safety looks and feels in a community.

Sheriffs often control:

• How laws are enforced (or deprioritized)

• Who gets hired, trained, and promoted

• How county jails are run

• Cooperation (or lack of it) with federal agencies

• Use-of-force policies

• Jail conditions, healthcare, and accountability

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Translation:The sheriff decides how much discretion, humanity, and transparency exists in the system.

Why This Role Matters More Than People Realize

Two communities can live under the same state laws and have completely different experiences with law enforcement because the sheriff sets the tone.

That tone affects:

• Arrest rates

• Racial disparities

• Trust (or fear) between residents and officers

• Whether public safety feels protective or punitive

  
  

And yet… many people can’t name their sheriff or explain what they stand for.

Experience vs. Accountability

Like many local roles, sheriffs often stay in office for long stretches of time sometimes decades.

Experience can be valuable. But unchecked power without public engagement leads to systems that resist change, even when communities are asking for it.

Public safety should evolve as communities evolve.

What You Can Do

• Learn who your sheriff is and how long they’ve been in office

• Pay attention to jail reports, lawsuits, and community complaints

• Ask where they stand on transparency, training, and reform

• Vote with intention not just familiarity

Final Thought:

Public safety isn’t just about crime it’s about care, trust, and accountability.

And the sheriff plays a major role in deciding which one your community gets.