(Dunno where to stick it...)

Just thinking because of a movie... if a sheriff doesn't get re-elected... does he get unemployment money? I mean, if the man is already getting on a bit, what the heck do you do to make a living? The same when he's got a family with kids.
We don't have an election system as we have no sheriffs, just normal police and these are employed, have a contract so I don't know how this would work.
So what happens with a sheriff when he doesn't get re-elected, or when he's to retire? Does he get a pension?

Since sheriff is an elected position,
it's doubtful one can draw unemployment
upon losing an election.

However, since many in law enforcement
are there for the career. By the time
someone gets elected sheriff, they may
already have close to the twenty year
minimum in, required for retirement
and pension.

Lose an election as sheriff, retire
and live on that pension...
Or, continue on as a deputy, if
permitted by the department, and
newly elected sheriff.

Many sheriffs after they served office, weather not re-elected or retired, many run for elected offices in local government. And many do win those seats. Name recognition is a valuable asset in local elections.

Former Detroit Chief of Police James Craig is running for governor in Michigan.

He's a black man running as a Republican so the media will probably be accusing him of being a racist.

But as chief of police he would've had a contract, fully employed, not elected?

So basically when not re-elected your career as a sheriff is simply over. That would make someone very prone to turning a blind eye when someone with a lot of influence -or their kids- does something wrong... Just to protect your job & career.
A good way to create crooked people in authority :/

What the head of any policing agency/department faces when they leave whether it's by resigning/quitting, getting fired or not being reelected the situation is the same. When an official is elected they have basically enter into contractual agreement that like every employment contract has time limit.