Hacker News Reader

> The Sheriff is the only law enforcement officer in the US that the people vote for. All others are appointed.

Most US states have elections for their chief law enforcement officer, the attorney general.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_United_States_attorney_ge...

State attorney generals are voted on by state elections, and it's unlikely many people know or can meet an attorney general.

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.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com