Last night a woman was stabbed to death in West Hollywood., California. The city is patrolled by the sheriff, not the LAPD. This is what their yellow tape looks like.

Curious, I looked up “alguacil.” It is an old Spanish term referring to a sort of city manager or vice mayor, but not a sheriff. On further reflection, I learned something important.

There is no Spanish translation for sheriff. In fact, there is no translation in any language for sheriff, because the office is unique to the USA. It exists in no other country.

Nowhere else in the world, not even in the British Commonwealth, do citizens elect their chief law enforcement officer. In all other nations, he or she is appointed by the government, usually the national government.

In London they have the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. In Paris they have the Préfet de Police. In Berlin they have the Polizeipräsident. In Mexico City they have the Secretario de Securidad y Protección Ciudadana. All are appointed by the national government. But they don’t have a sheriff.

Let us appreciate the wisdom of our founders. Let us revel in our freedom, while we still have it. Let us take comfort in the fact that the woman’s murder will be investigated by detectives overseen by the Los Angeles County Sheriff. You can call him El Alguacil if you like, but he’s still the sheriff.