Quote Originally Posted by Chimensch View Post
Actually, most law enforcement is handled at the city level simply because most Americans live in cities. For example, in Chicago, which occupies all of Cook Country, the sheriffs department does little more than deliver summons. In the collar counties, Lake, Will, etc., the sheriff only provides law enforcement in unincorporated areas, which by definition, contain relatively few people.

Interesting, I forgot about the cities, around here the county seems to do the most since the cities jurisdiction ends at the city limits even though most of the people seem to live in the burbs which may or may not be incorporated and may or may not have their own police force. For instance no one around here lets Detroit city police out of the city, They prefer it if the county forces and their own elected sheriffs deal with any crime that leaks out from town. Ann Arbor where I live used to have jurisdictional disputes all the time with the university (located in town but its own entity) to the point where the easiest way to beat a ticket was to enter university property where the city cops couldn't legally pursue without permission they were unlikely to get. Thats gotten better lately but it could still be an issue and with the actually city limits containing only half the residents of this county the sheriff has a lot of area and people to take care of.