# Would we lose anything if we ended all Sheriff's departments? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2024, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347 "2024-08-06T20:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/141 "2024-08-09T04:17:07Z")
The government collects money many different ways. They can tell you a given tax is to fund “X” but money is fungible so, really, government usually does whatever they want with that money. I think police (of any sort) are paid from property taxes. But again, you dump all the taxes into a pot and then they get doled out so… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/142 "2024-08-09T04:21:22Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The evidence is above. You have no evidence, and i asked you for a cite, and you were unable to give one. You are simply wrong. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Did you even read it? It does not appear so. he started with a totally incorrect assumption, and cant find a cite. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Seriously, are your reading the other posts because it seems like you’re not. He does not appear to be doing so. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Wait. Doesn’t most City government get their funds from sales taxes paid in the area? Yep. and unincorporated areas have special assessments- I have about $2000 a year worth of them. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/143 "2024-08-09T04:21:53Z")
\<\< deleted by poster \>\> I think this has been done. If @DrDeth wants to rant then fine. I’m done. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/144 "2024-08-09T04:23:59Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Seriously, are your reading the other posts because it seems like you’re not. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Back atcha. If you two want to have a go at each other, you know where the Pit is. If you want to keep posting in this thread, focus on the topic and not on each other. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/145 "2024-08-09T04:27:39Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I asked you for a cite. That is not how this works. If _you_ cant come up with a cite, you dont get off by demanding one back. I have provided a cite, which you did not acknowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/146 "2024-08-09T04:31:15Z")
I just read a way too long PDF crap sheet about how many municipal police funds are matched by state and federal funds. As I pay into both these funds I feel like I’ve covered the State, County and City police, for my part. Since Arkansas is very rural, and many many people live in these areas, also paying taxes. Yep. I say we got you city folk covered as well. I think I deserve a refund. Who gonna pay that? Well, I guess that’s a big ol’ nobody. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/147 "2024-08-09T04:34:23Z")
Are you saying you live in remote-city-A but are paying for police in remote-city-B? > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yep. I say we got you city folk covered as well. I think I deserve a refund. Who gonna pay that? I’m cool with tallying up the tax bill if you are. I pay for my police that give me speeding tickets and you pay for yours. Seems fair. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/148 "2024-08-09T04:39:46Z")
Dude, I live in the woods. Ain’t no city here. I’m the Mayor of my own world. I do live in two counties. I’ll explain that if you want me to. I pay federal taxes. I pay state taxes. I pay sales tax. I pay county taxes in 2, count 'em 2 counties. As one of these is mostly salable trees the taxes are high. I pay my part. I assure you. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/149 "2024-08-09T07:06:46Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > But you do not pay for police. > > I pay for both. You’re using both. Your Sheriff no doubt runs the jail and staff the jail and feeds the inmates and handles their medical expenses. This is the jail that your police use. This is only one example of how you are receiving county Sheriff services. On the other hand, the county isn’t getting police service from the city. So, they aren’t paying city taxes. You’re receiving both city and county services. So, you’re paying for both. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/150 "2024-08-09T07:15:41Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > So, you’re paying for both. My point is I pay for police to pull me over for speeding. Why do I need to pay for sheriffs to pull me over for speeding too? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/151 "2024-08-09T07:21:54Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Why do I need to pay for sheriffs to pull me over for speeding too? You’re paying state taxes for the Highway Patrol to pull out over for speeding as well. That doesn’t mean the Highway Patrol isn’t needed or that you shouldn’t pay State taxes simply because you already have two agencies who pull you over, so you don’t want to pay for a third. You can’t pick and choose the services you want. There are people living in areas with no highways, and they never see the state police. Yet, they are still paying state taxes and still funding the state police. Your scenario is not unique to the city or even unique to law enforcement. You’re paying for a lot of things you might not benefit from directly. But, the Sheriff does a lot more than just pull you over for speeding. Think of it this way: Your taxes are funding the essential services the county sheriff provides to you. They throw in the ticket writing and curb-side harrassment for free. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/152 "2024-08-09T07:27:51Z")
Where I live the state police get the highways for speeders. The local police get the local road violations. The sheriffs? They get the rural roads. My point is, why am I subsidizing sheriffs to patrol rural roads? Maybe the people who live there should pay for that service same as I pay for police to protect me where I live. It’s not a crazy idea. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/153 "2024-08-09T07:38:53Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > My point is, why am I subsidizing sheriffs to patrol rural roads? Maybe the people who live there should pay for that service same as I pay for police to protect me where I live. It’s not a crazy idea. Because they do more than just patrol local rural roads. I’ve already mentioned some of the services they provide the city. The biggest and most obvious should be the county jail. Since taxes are not a al carte, you can’t say “I want these taxes to pay for the Sheriff’s jail, but not the patrol cars. I want to pay for the detention deputies, but not the patrol deputies or detectives.” ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/154 "2024-08-09T07:39:59Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Because they do more than just patrol local rural roads. OMG…read the thread! We’ve done this (a lot…lots of posts). ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/155 "2024-08-09T07:44:12Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > We’ve done this (a lot…lots of posts). Yes, we have. And you still fail to understand. I’m not sure how else to explain it to you. Maybe you should take a tour of your county government offices, your local jail and courthouse, and the sheriff’s headquarters. Maybe then you’ll understand why you are paying county taxes. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/156 "2024-08-09T07:50:31Z")
I also don’t understand how in one post you complain that a deputy pulled you over despite you being a city dweller and city tax payer. You said this was redundant because you already have police to pull you over. Then, in the next post, you state the sheriff only patrols rural roads. If you were pulled over by a deputy while you were outside the city, then the county tax payers got exactly what they’re paying taxes and funding their sheriff’s department to do: enforce traffic laws in the county. So, what’s your complaint? Don’t want to get pulled over by the sheriff, stay in the city. If your complaint is that the county citizens are not paying for the Sheriff, that’s incorrect. They are. If your complaint is that you’re paying county taxes as well, but you don’t want to fund the sheriff because you don’t benefit from it, then that is incorrect as well. The sheriff provides services to you beyond just pulling you over for your safety on public roads. If you did away with the sheriff, you’d lose all those services. If you tried to have your police department do all of those things, your taxes would skyrocket. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/157 "2024-08-09T07:52:53Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > I also don’t understand how in one post you complain that a deputy pulled you over despite you being a city dweller and city tax payer. I’ve never been pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy in my whole life and I never said so. Also, never state police. (ETA…maybe once in Wisconsin…also in the 80’s…had my parents in the car with me so that was fun but I forget if it was a local cop or state police.) Last time I was pulled over by a police officer (local) was in the late 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/158 "2024-08-09T07:56:59Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > My point is I pay for police to pull me over for speeding. > > Why do I need to pay for sheriffs to pull me over for speeding too? If the sheriff has never pulled you over for speeding, then you’re probably not paying the sheriff to pull you over for speeding. Looks like you have no problem to complain about, then. The Sheriff is staying in their area and the police are staying in theirs. You’re paying for all the services the sheriff provides to the city and not paying him to pull you over. This still bothers you for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/159 "2024-08-09T07:58:35Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > If the sheriff has never pulled you over for speeding, then you’re probably not paying the sheriff to pull you over for speeding. That’s just weird. (and I know what you will quote next and it is still weird for not getting it) This still bothers you for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2024, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-we-lose-anything-if-we-ended-all-sheriffs-departments/1005347/160 "2024-08-09T07:59:44Z")
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