What each rank does and is responsible for

Sheriff-HIghest rank and oversees the entire department

Undersheriff- The undersheriff is the highest-ranking appointment law-enforcement officer. They report directly to the sheriff and oversees the department’s overall operations.

Assistant Sheriff- Oversees several divisions, which are each headed by a commander.

Commander- Commanders fulfill many of the same job duties as the Assistant Sheriff.

Captain- As a captain in a sheriff’s office, you are in charge of a division, such as a child-protective investigations division or a criminal investigations division. You oversee the personnel in your department and are responsible for hiring and evaluating them. You may also assist your commander with their duties.

Lieutenant- The rank of lieutenant is the first senior officer promotion available to you. The promotion comes with increased responsibilities. You’ll supervise personnel with lesser ranks, such as sergeants and deputies. You may be responsible for a specific group of deputies. You report to the captain of your division.

Sergeant- The first major promotion available to you in the sheriff’s office is the rank of Sergeant. As a sergeant, you can supervise corporals and deputies. You may also play a role in their training. To earn this rank, you have to show good leadership ability and prove that you have strong communication skills.

Corporal- The rank of Corporal is one of the first promotion available to you after joining the sheriff’s office as a deputy. This rank shows your experience. As a corporal, you’ll have some authority over the deputies in the department, though this authority often does not include a supervisory role.

Deputy- Many people begin their careers in the sheriff’s office with the rank of deputy. You earn this rank after completing initial training. You’ll likely be assigned general duties, such as patrolling the county.