AI-assisted research summary: The sheriff must serve and return lawful writs and other legal process, file the required annual inventory statement, and meet the statute’s residency rules. A county board may appoint a qualified law enforcement officer as county sheriff if there is no elected sheriff or a vacancy.
(1) It is the duty of the sheriff to serve or otherwise execute, according to law, and return writs or other legal process issued by lawful authority and directed or committed to the sheriff and to perform such other duties as may be required by law. The county sheriff shall prepare and file the required annual inventory statement of county personal property in his or her custody or possession as provided in sections 23-346 to 23-350. (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, a sheriff need not be a resident of the county when he or she files for election as sheriff, but a sheriff shall reside in the county for which he or she holds office. (3) This subsection applies to a county that does not contain a city of the metropolitan, primary, or first class. The sheriff need not be a resident of the county when he or she files for election as sheriff of such county, but when holding office, such sheriff shall reside in such county or an adjoining county. (4) If there is no county sheriff elected pursuant to section 32-520 or if a vacancy occurs for any other reason, the county board of such county may appoint a law enforcement officer qualified pursuant to section 23-1701.01 from any Nebraska county to the office of county sheriff. In making such appointment, the county board shall enter into a contract with the appointed county sheriff, such contract to specify the terms and conditions of the appointment, including the compensation of the appointed county sheriff, which compensation shall not be subject to sections 23-1114.02 to 23-1114.06. History: Laws 1879, § 116, p. 384; R.S.1913, § 5653; C.S.1922, § 4980; C.S.1929, § 26-1401; Laws 1939, c. 28, § 15, p. 154; C.S.Supp.,1941, § 26-1401; R.S.1943, § 23-1701; Laws 1986, LB 812, § 6; Laws 1996, LB 1085, § 34; Laws 2024, LB894, § 1; Laws 2026, LB784, § 1.