Today, the obligations and expectations of the Merced County Sheriff/Coroner are well defined by California law. Included in his responsibilities today is the duty to maintain jail facilities, preserve peace, make arrests, prevent and suppress affrays, breaches of the peace, riots, and insurrections.
Additionally, the Sheriff is compelled to investigate public offenses and search for missing persons. In his role as Coroner, he protects the interests of the deceased and has considerable authority to investigate sudden or suspicious deaths.
The role of the Sheriff has undergone considerable change in the last 1000 years. However, New Mexico State University Professor Edward A. Farris perhaps summed it up best when he wrote: “His (the Sheriff’s) duties and powers may be altered by the existing social and political climate, but his basic responsibility – to protect life and property – has not been diminished.”
About Merced: The men and women of the Merced County Sheriff’s Office are dedicated to providing the finest quality law enforcement and correctional services. Our mission is to provide responsive, professional, and caring law enforcement services to all the people of Merced County. We will:
o - Respond to calls for service promptly.
o - Protect lives and property to the very best of our abilities.
o - Initiate and maintain crime prevention programs.
o - Apprehend criminal offenders.
We will maintain correctional facilities and operate correctional programs in the most efficient and effective manner possible. We will be diligent in our role as Coroners to protect the rights and dignity of those who can no longer speak for themselves.
As Merced County Sheriff / Coroner employees, we will always conform to the high standards expected by the public, by being fair, compassionate, unbiased, and in conformance with the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.
Martin Rivera