How Do I Become A Sheriff?

Sheriffs do important work in protecting members of society from harm. A sheriff ensures that the members of a community are safe. He or she may have to respond to emergency phone calls from citizens in the community. A sheriff may also need to manage all of the units in a patrol center. The sheriff has to make sure that the patrol center is having a positive influence in controlling violence in the community. The sheriff may need to analyze trends of crime in the community. It may be his or her job to create seminar programs the educate police officers about the ways to protect people from harm. If you want to become a sheriff, then you should have a desire for protecting people from harm. Maybe you have wondered, “How do I become a sheriff?” When you want to become a sheriff, it is important for you to obtain the necessary education and have an ability to perceive situations that can escalate to violence.

What’s it like to be a sheriff?

When you are a sheriff, you respond to phone calls from the public. You may need to go to a person’s home to ensure that the person is safe from harm. A person may call the patrol center and be afraid that he or she has a robber in the home. A person may also call the patrol center and be involved in a car accident or a situation of gang violence. It is the job of the police officers to respond to these situations. As a sheriff, you may also need to think about strategies for managing a riot that breaks out in a major city. You will have additional responsibilities in lowering crime rates if you work in a large city. If you work in a rural town, then your major responsibility may be managing the budget for a patrol office.

Education Requirements

To become a sheriff, you should obtain an undergraduate degree in criminal justice. It is important for you to have a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system. You should attempt to learn about the ways that the criminal justice system operates in detaining individuals. You should also learn about the laws that govern the police force. It is important for you to know what police officers can and can not do in arresting individuals. You may be the head sheriff who is responsible for instructing police officers about the proper ways to arrest individuals. You do not want your unit to conduct illegal searches and seizures. An illegal search will result in a case going to trial, and this ends up being more costly for the public. After you complete a degree in criminal justice, you will then need to take a test at a patrol center in order to become a sheriff. You will also need to undergo a training session in order to become a sheriff.

Salary & How to Get a Job

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a sheriff is about $45,000 a year. If you are responsible for managing an entire unit, then your salary may be as high as $85,000 a year. Most individuals become sheriffs after working as police officers for a few years.

References:
1. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes333051.htm
2. http://www.ehow.com/how_2083422_become-sheriff.html