Do I address a Deputy Sheriff as "Deputy" or "Sheriff"?
I'm feeling fat, and sassy
Update:laughter_every_day: While at the courthouse the other day, the gentleman's badge read "Deputy Sheriff". A quick google search of "Deputy Sheriff" will show that the string is often used. I want to know what the hierarchy is. Is he a Sheriff? THE Sheriff?
Answers & Comments
The sheriff is the boss. The elected official.
His officers are his deputies.
The proper formal address for a working county cop is deputy or officer.
If writing a news story and such you would say a "sheriff's deputy" or "deputy sheriff".
Your example it would be more normal to write
"Last night, DEPUTY JONES and I got some ...."
I used to be a deputy, I preferred to be called "Deputy". Some old timers would refer to me as Sheriff, but there is only one Sheriff, and usually a lot of deputies. Most Deputies don't care if someone refers to them as "Officer", but that term is usually reserved for municipal police officers. I am a municipal police sergeant now, and am referred to as "Officer" or "Sergeant". When I worked in Colorado, we had an elected Sheriff, his assistant was the Undersheriff, who he appointed. Then we had Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Coporals and Deputies. Everyone from the Undersheriff on down was technically a Deputy. We would refer to them by their rank.
Try sir.