well here goes your theory out the window:

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=276432

I noticed that to. In fact I've been to calls where a person will only talk to a Dep and refuses to talk to me since I'm a city cop. Deps seem to garner a little more respect around here.

LOL...don't really have that problem around here.  

The tin foil hat types see the Sheriff as the only lawful law enforcement official in their area. I think its particularly bad in areas with racial divisions in their past where some of the LEOs were actually part of the problem, which didn't get corrected til Federal officials had to step in. Some people just resent that they can't string up people of other ethnic groups on a whim ( "hey that black guy just whistled at that white girl! Lets string him up!") with legal impunity anymore.