Here in Los Angeles there is the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. They both drive the same type of vehicles, wear similar uniforms, armed with guns, and respond to the same emergency calls. But why the different name? I do know that they cover different parts of the city, but are there are any power differences or privileges that one has over the other?
nevermind i just saw another thread on the same topic
In the specific case of LA, the Los Angeles Police Department provides police services to the city of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provides police services to unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County (among other things.) Some small cities in LA County contract with the Sheriff’s Dept for police services, and most of the bigger ones have their own independant police department. Each county in California has its own Sheriff.