Hi ML!
Going by your your run of the mill US TV show, the Sheriff's an electoral position. His station is the Sheriff's office (IIRC), definitely fitted with one or two jail cells. Usually, they seem to be fitted with bars at least on the door side. And if there are two, there are bars between. And for help, the Sheriff's got one or more deputies.
I checked: There's also a rather long wikipedia article for more details
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriffs_in_the_United_States Michael
PS: This sounds better and better!