This brings the most powerful enforcer of the law in the US very close to the citizens and voters. They know this person and can personally remove them from office in small elections.
Most US states have elections for their chief law enforcement officer, the attorney general.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_United_States_attorney_ge...
The Sheriff is a county election, and is likely to be known (or even well known) in the community even before being elected.
I have been told by a sheriff deputy that the sheriff is the highest authority in the county, above all other authorities, that even the Presidents have to ask permission to enter their county. I am guessing this would include attorney generals as well.