Sheriffs who obtained military equipment have been more likely to be re-elected, researchers find

"Sheriffs in counties that get more military surplus equipment from a federal program have a better chance of getting reelected than sheriffs whose counties get less equipment, or less lethal equipment, from the same program," researchers report in The Conversation, a site for journalism by academic researchers. "Sheriffs are often reelected with large margins. But our analysis found that in close elections, the amount of military equipment received by a county may have made the difference in who won."

The study shows that received Defense Department equipment, in ranges of amounts, from 1990 to 2015. "We found that military transfers increase the sheriff’s reelection likelihood," the researchers write. "For instance, transferring equipment of total value of $188,579 to a county that actually received no equipment made it, statistically, 8% more likely that the sheriff would be re-elected." The research found no significant difference based on the size of a county's population.

The researchers used several statistical methods to control for other factors, and concluded, "The results on the role of equipment on re-election outcome is statistically and economically significant." One factor they did not address, and which would be difficult to measure, is the possibility that sheriffs who are enterprising and ambitious enough to get military equipment also have enterprise and ambition that makes them successful politicians. 

The research was done by three British academics: Christos Mavridis of Middlesex University, Maurizio Zanardi of the University of Surrey and Orestis Troumpounis of the University of Padua in Italy and Lancaster University.