This is an important case to highlight the role of a county sheriff in a Constitutional Republic. The sheriff is elected by the citizenry of the jurisdiction he serves and, as such he does so at the pleasure of the people he has taken an oath to protect. This is opposed to police officers who are appointed by local elected party politicians. Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, the sheriff has been neutered, having surrendered his independence to state politicians, which itself may be unconstitutional. A Constitutional sheriff is a distinctly unique LE officer. The sheriff’s job is to protect the citizens of his county consistent with the Constitution of the United States and the laws of his state and he answers only to those who have elected him in the county of his jurisdiction.
All Florida Sheriffs are Constitutional Officers. The State Constitution requires each county to have a duly elected sheriff. Thus, they are solely responsible to the people. The Governor of course can remove any sheriff for crimes and malfeasance. Our sheriff was removed about ten years ago for embezzlement. He was arrested in Las Vegas. He had a gambling problem. Shocked everybody...................