often it’s the other way around. police leadership via the unions have longer continuity than local government. and in most places - changing only a little bit more recently - candidates fight over who has the endorsement of the union, ask for donations from them, etc.
add on top of that the contracts which prevent change, and the ability to use force ( or harassment ) against officials and their families…
lots of towns im sure the sheriff is the law ( rather than the enforcer of law ), and you only have to look at cities like nyc to see which group has the most money and toys