BARBOUR COUNTY AL: Under Alabama Law the requirements to be Sheriff of a county and the requirements to be Coroner:
| Sheriff 7, 17 | 18 | 1 day | 1 day | yes | 4 | no limit |
| Coroner 7, 18, 24 | 25 | 1 day | 1 day | yes | 4 | no limit |
CLICK FOR LINK TO ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE – QUALIFICATIONS FOR SHERIFF AND CORONER
SHERIFF: 18 years of age, a resident of State of Alabama for 1 day, a U.S. Citizen for 1 year, a registered voter for 1 day in the State of Alabama, a four year term, and no limit to the amount of terms. No education requirements before elected or during the term of office.
So at age, 18 a person could command a 200-person department and be in command of the county jail. Yet, at age 18, the Sheriff could not purchase cigarettes, could not purchase or possess alcohol or if he did could get arrested for minor in possession of alcohol, and can not purchase a firearm.
CORONER: 25 years of age, a resident of State of Alabama for 1 day, a U.S, Citizen for 1 day, a registered voter for 1 day in the State of Alabama, a four year term and no limit of terms. Coroner is required to have 12 hours each year of continuing education at the Coroner’s expense and the county not required to pay for the continuing education.
BARBOUR COUNTY SHERIFF TYRONE SMITH
In his second term as Barbour County Sheriff, Tyrone Smith has proposed legislation to increase the qualifications for candidates wishing to seek the Office of Sheriff in Barbour County. A few highlights of the proposed legislation are: (1) 5 years of law enforcement (2) minimum age 25 (3) an Associate’s degree.
The legislation hit snags last legislative year. Sheriff Smith met with Senator Billy Beasley and Representative Ford. The issues were discussed and some compromises were reached.
The Sheriff is not an employee of the County Commission. There is no requirement for the Sheriff to have permission of the County Commission for legislation he proposes.
This legislation, as Sheriff Smith explains, does not hurt or help him, but he feels the Office of Sheriff has enormous responsibility and he feels there needs to be some standards set.
Sheriff Tyrone Smith expressed to the registered voters his frustration that members of the Barbour County Commission called a special meeting to oppose the legislation. Their opposition is over the 5 years of law enforcement experience. And some commissioners have alleged to have told some untruths about the position of the Barbour County Coroner and the District Attorney for Barbour and Bullock County.
Below you can see Sheriff Tyrone Smith and the special called meeting of the Barbour County Commission.
The Barbour County Commission called a special meeting to oppose legislation proposed by Barbour County Sheriff Tyrone Smith.
