[Hot Tabasco]

remaining two officers — one part-time detective and the chief

They're not even necessary since the county has a sheriff's department.

Where I live in S.E. Michigan, my township has no personal police dept., all calls are handled by the county Sheriff's dept.

[Vigilanteman]

There is nothing wrong with that if the arrangements are made. Our township (population of over 80K) makes the same arrangement with our county sheriff's department as well as a local Pennsylvania State Police barracks.

Even though we get castigated by smaller municipalities in the county for "free riding", the fact of the matter is that we pay taxes to support both the county and the Pennsylvania State Police, many of whom live in our neighborhood and park their cruisers in the driveway.

The idea that every 'burgh needs their own PD is based more upon local pride than reality.

[Bikkuri]

Sheriff's Dept. or Sheriff's Office? (The name DOES make a difference).

I've noticed that there are still some named with Dept. in their name around the country...

The Office of the Sheriff -- By Definition