I am curious about the diiference between the Sheriffs vs Police Chiefs

[MarkCO]

There is more to it than that. The Sheriff has more powers bestowed upon the office up based in how our government was set up. Legally, a Cheif is subserviant to a Sheriff. The term "Cheif law Enforcement Official" has generally been interpreted to mean the Sheriff. Some DAs beleive that they are the "Cheif Law Enforcement Official" but that has not been fully tested to the SC whereas the subserviance of a Cheif to a Sheriff has been. Unless a Cheif is elected, there is a reservation of powers to the law enforcement official who is elected above him/her.

[Sawin]

Yeah it really sucks for me, since Broomfield doesn't have a Sheriff. We're stuck with a far left incumbent from 1991 - Present, who wants to limit my rights. Just terrific. I can't even vote against him.

[brutal]

And then there's that abomination called Denver.

The Denver Sheriff Department is unique in all of Colorado. Our "Sheriff", Alex Martinez was appointed as Manager of Public Safety by Mayor Hancock on November 1, 2011.

[Fmedges]

I heard a sheriff talking on the radio a few weeks ago. He said basically sheriffs and police chiefs are at odds about guns and have been for a long time. He said that the same lobbyist for the anti gun group also works for the police chiefs group.

[Melvin]

Another difference. The coroner can arrest the sheriff but not the police chief.

[Ridge]

Yeah it really sucks for me, since Broomfield doesn't have a Sheriff. We're stuck with a far left incumbent from 1991 - Present, who wants to limit my rights. Just terrific. I can't even vote against him.

Why not? Why not run against him?

[waxthis]

Chiefs are mostly political hacks. and Sheriffs are elected.

DUPE

Such as that worthless chief Johnson at the Senate hearings today!

[OneGuy67]

There is more to it than that. The Sheriff has more powers bestowed upon the office up based in how our government was set up. Legally, a Cheif is subserviant to a Sheriff. The term "Cheif law Enforcement Official" has generally been interpreted to mean the Sheriff. Some DAs beleive that they are the "Cheif Law Enforcement Official" but that has not been fully tested to the SC whereas the subserviance of a Cheif to a Sheriff has been. Unless a Cheif is elected, there is a reservation of powers to the law enforcement official who is elected above him/her.

FYI, Chief is spelled I before E, except after C. I'm just messing with you on that!

Seriously though, the Colorado statute does not indicate the Sheriff is the Chief Law Enforcement Official for the county; what it does is list out a series of required duties of a sheriff, which it does not for Chiefs. Things like the duty to have a jail, to serve civil papers, etc. Other parts of statute line out the Colorado State Patrol's duties, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation's duties, etc.