ABSTRACT
In the United States, it is important to distinguish between the policing role of a sheri and that of a police chief. According to Burch (2012), the historical framework for the sheri can be traced back to tenth century England. At rst, the “shire-reeve”—a political gure-served as the King’s right hand to protect his interests by collecting taxes and taking suspects into custody. e foundation of the “shire-reeve” was adopted in the American colonies. e political dimensions of the sheri originally included those sworn by the Crown (State), but changed within America in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries evolving to an elected position, thus molding the sheri to be accountable to the citizens. In most cases the sheri’s position is constitutional, which is stipulated in charter documents. Currently, in the United States, 98% of the 3,083 sheris are elected by the voting public within the county/parish. erefore, the position cannot “be abolished, have its power and responsibilities reduced, or have its personnel decisions made by the county boards or commissioners” (Burch, 2012: 126).
