>>64146344
Those stars mean he is THE Sheriff. Basically the chief of the department. Police rank and military rank do not translate. It depends entirely on the situation. If it is a law enforcement operation and the military is assisting, then the military personnel will follow the direction of the police. If martial law is declared and the military takes over, the police have no authority.

I was a deputy sheriff and during one of the hurricanes the national guard came in to boost our numbers and prevent looting. They stuck one guardsmen with each deputy and we drove around town together.