Whenever I read a book, I have certain images of what the H/H look like. Doesn’t matter what the descriptions are—I know that’s terrible since the authors do go to great trouble to create that character’s world, but it’s just what I’ve always done. And it does vary slightly with one exception… whenever I read Sheriff or the likes, he’s a cowboy. Always always. Now it doesn’t necessarily crossover for all law enforcement. I’ve read too many procedural books to think of them all boot wearing, hat toting men. But regardless of the city or state, I read sheriff/deputy even chief in a small town my mind jumps to a Stetson and Justin’s wearing man with a shiny silver badge.
Could be, that growing up, the majority of the shows I watched with the “law” were the westerns reruns (back before we had cable—and we were the *last* folks to get it—I spent my under-teen years glued to the black and white UHF channels). The men who protected wore the boots and they had the hats and that seemed like how it should be and it cemented in my head what the law looks like. That coupled with the fact the only time I saw a man in uniform for real, they were Texas State Troopers—never saw one w/o the hat. Not that my parents weren’t law abiding or anything… it’s just that living in central/west Texas & the woods of east Texas it was the State Troopers who patrolled and stopped and even came to the school to do all “the talks”. I don’t know that I saw a city “cop” until I was eleven and we moved to Dallas.
Naturally, when I go to write, all the “law” I want to use are of the same ilk. (Even the city cops, I want to write as such.) I started working on a new book recently and it’s not *so* much a western, but it still has that vibe. Small town with the away from the “city” mentality. A Good ol’ Boy network along with the women who run the men. The new Chief of Police, though he was the coolest guy in school, every guy wanted to be like him, every girl wanted him (except the heroine of course), he couldn’t wait to get away from small town life. When he comes home to take the new job, he’s every bit the boots and badge kind of guy and it’s natural for him to slide right in to take over. (it always circles back…) I also have one working in the back of my head when I finish this one. And you guessed it, the “new” sheriff will be a tried and true cowboy. I can’t wait to get started on it…
Give me a guy with boots and a badge any day…
