i might disagree - all brawn and with no brains may just be as deadly, if not more so.  to qualify - the "youngster" has to be fully vetted in every aspect of being an officer of the law.  some - not all - of the private employees might fully qualify to be as effective as a sheriff, without the costs of the unionized benefits.  the issue of falsified time would then fall in the contractor's lap.  but as in all government positions, due diligence is REQUIRED to maintain effective cost controls.