A deputy sheriff has a wide range of duties which include but not limited to works related to custody and court services; driving a radio car while patrolling designated areas to preserve the peace, spot criminal activity, and protect property and life of civilians; and investigating developing and non-developing complaints of crimes and performing follow-up investigations.Under general supervision, Deputy Sheriff executes a full range of police functions in the areas of search and rescue, civil process, detention and courtroom security, criminal investigation, and patrol operation; and further carries out related undertaking as assigned (Washoe Sheriff, 2004, p. 1).
The Deputy Sheriff’s functions are performed in outdoor, courtroom, detention facility, and in office environments. Working conditions include constant contact with the public and working staff, and in some instances, extraordinary exposure to life-threatening conditions.Deputy Sheriff’s work relating in a custody and court services includes: ensuring and enforcing compliance with State and Federal laws, judicial compliance, and local ordinances orders as necessary; maintains, transport, and guards the safety and security of pre-sentenced and sentenced prisoners by implementing detention procedures and policies; supervises the work of and instructs a group of inmates assigned to different maintenance, operations, or other restorative activities; operates a computer terminal to acquire criminal record information as well as warrants, or other hold orders, and renews housing and classification information as needed; protects prisoners and their monies and property as necessary in conformity with departmental procedure and policy together with juvenile detention regulations and policy; and carries out diverse law enforcement duties during a local state of emergency (LASD, 2005, p. 2).
With regard to the Deputy Sheriff’s patrolling duty, the following responsibilities include: implementing local ordinances, and State and federal laws; chasing suspects in a vehicle or on foot; restraining resisting suspects by employing necessary force, which may include the use of firearms, in order to maintain law and order, and guarantee personal and other’s wellbeing; transporting, booking, arresting and detaining suspects; preserving, collecting and recording evidence; writing arrest and retaining a log reports; writing traffic citations, making traffic stops and issuing warnings; taking action to emergency scenes and radio calls for service to offer support and uphold law and order; and recovering stolen or lost property (LASD, 2005, p. 2).Investigative duties of Deputy Sheriff includes: interviewing informants, suspects, witnesses, and victims; taking notes and writing investigative reports and complaints; searching for evidence and contrabands, including their preservation, collection and recording; court appearances in order to give testimony in any legal proceedings; and serving criminal and civil process papers (LASD, 2005, p. 2).
Conclusion Deputy Sheriff executes a variety of extensive law enforcement duties. In general, the career description of Deputy Sheriff covers the performance of crime investigation and prevention activities; respond to most important emergencies; provides custody, care, control, and movement of inmates; to serve during court proceedings as bailiff; and to serve as deputy coroner. While Deputy Sheriff may be dispersed to a definite area of law enforcement, he or she must be also competent of performing tasks in other areas.
