The word ""deputy"" may evoke images of classic westerns, but this police job is still alive and well today. A deputy sheriff, like a sheriff, enforces the law and prevents crime in a county or state (as opposed to a municipality). While job duties vary from district to district, this uniformed law enforcement officer performs work such as:

• Investigating crimes
• Answering calls for service
• Transporting prisoners
• Controlling and detaining prisoners
• Evaluating and serving court orders
• Providing security for judges, attorneys, jurors, witnesses, and visitors to the court
• Assisting other police agencies on behalf of the sheriff's office

A deputy sheriff must have at least a high school education. Sometimes college coursework or a college degree is required. Like other law enforcement careers, criminal justice degrees can give you excellent preparation for work in this field. Consider an online degree if you are seeking to combine professional experience with education.

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not have specific figures relating to deputy sheriffs, police and detectives held about 861,000 jobs in 2006, with the majority employed by local governments.

*The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in police jobs will grow 11 percent through 2016. Salaries for careers in this field range from $30,070 to $79,680.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics