Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I guess that I just started thinking about it, but can anyone tell me why Sheriff is an elected position versus appointed? The chief of police in the city is an appointed position -- what's the difference.

Also, how can there be a party affiliation? Isn't the Sheriff charged with enforcing the law as their primary duty? What would be the difference in Republican enforcement versus Democrat enforcement?

Thanks for the enlightenment...

History Of The Ohio Sheriff

The Sheriffs of America have played a significant role in the history of our Nation, and the Sheriffs of Ohio are no exception to this heritage. A brief study of the history of Ohio reveals that Ohio Sheriffs have contributed greatly to the development of the Buckeye State.

Until Ohio achieved statehood in 1803, the position of Sheriff was filled through appointments made at the pleasure of the Colonial Governor. The first Sheriff on the record in Ohio was Colonel Ebenezer Sproat. At the time he was appointed in 1788, Colonel Sproat's jurisdiction covered all of Washington County. This enormous area of land included all of eastern Ohio from the Ohio River to Lake Erie.

After statehood became a reality, only three public offices in Ohio were filled through the electoral process system. The position of Sheriff was one of them. Through this new system, William Skinner became the first elected Sheriff in the Buckeye State. Since the early 1800's, Ohio Sheriffs have been elected on the county level by the people they serve. By virtue of this process, this office has become the oldest law enforcement position in the United States. It is also the only remaining law enforcement office which is filled through the election method. The term of office for County Sheriffs in Ohio is four years.

In each of the 88 counties of Ohio, the Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer. His primary duties are to provide common pleas court services and corrections on a countywide basis, and full police protection to the unincorporated areas of the county. However, he also maintains full police jurisdiction in all municipalities, townships, and villages. In an effort to become consistent on a statewide level, Ohio Sheriffs and Deputies wear a standardized uniform, and all patrol vehicles are marked in the same manner.

Within Ohio, Sheriff's Offices have probably one of the most extensive sets of responsibilities to those they serve. By statute they must provide the following:

Line Law Enforcement

Court Security and Service of Papers

Jail Operations

Extradition Process

Transportation of Prisoners

Thanks, but

Thanks for the education, I understand the history now.

But why are there politics involved?

And WHY is it still an elected rather than an appointed position?

My take

The sheriff needs a degree of direct accountability to the voters as the sheriff is the chief constable - head law enforcement officer - for the county. Sheriff can dismiss local police from the scene or even highway patrol. That much power needs a direct check.

And Dave Phalen and his deputies are the best at that job in Ohio - period. All are class acts.