Unlike the typical police chief, the county sheriff is usually an elected official. The sheriff s department has as its principals the inhabitants of the county. Normally, a county sheriff displays more autonomy than other law enforcement agents, since, in theory, voters will hold the sheriff accountable for the success or failure of the department. The third group of public law enforcement agencies is the myriad specialized units commissioned to provide enforcement of specific sections of the legal code. Examples include the B.A.T.F. on the federal level, the A.L.E. on the state level, and Animal Control Officers on the local level.
All public agencies take a reactive approach to protective services.
Police today spend very little time deterring criminal activity. Instead, police are most often called upon to react after a person s property rights 3 have been violated. Specialized units spend most of their time monitoring compliance with laws or regulations under their control. Under these conditions, the true principal seeking justice Brenda Jones is not considered important, except perhaps as a witness for the State. Private Agents Private protective agencies provide a variety of services to a wide-ranging market.