I think you are correct and that is why I contribute every month to this state’s organization of sheriffs who use the money to train their deputies.
The FBI reports to the president.
The State Police reports to the governor.
The City Police reports to the mayor.
The Sheriff reports to no one but the voters.
I like that. That doesn’t mean there are no bad sheriffs, because there are. But a sheriff is way less likely to be just a puppet of some powerful person.
Interestingly enough, New York City used to have five sheriffs, one for each borough. It was an elected office. But now there’s just one sheriff, appointed by the mayor. I wonder why they changed that.
/s