I have already told most of those seeking the sheriff’s appointment I’m not making endorsements.

That doesn’t keep me, however, from exploiting the situation and coming up with an A List of potential fantasy or dream team appointees from the world of entertainment and one very real law enforcement officer.

In making these picks it kind of gives an idea of what I think a law enforcement officer should be — tough yet fair, pragmatic yet a dreamer, dogged yet yielding.

I do these in no particular order, just the way my mind thought of them this morning.

First on the list is Fox Mulder from the X-Files. Mulder is perhaps one of my favorite TV cops of all time. Smart and methodical, he also had the side that wanted to believe — you know, in little green men, alien conspiracies and the creatures and creeps from the paranormal world that would make others cringe and tremble in fear. A sheriff who said he believed would not put me off.

Second on the list is Lieutenant Philip Gerard from the original 1960s TV series The Fugitive. I would come home from work early back in the 90s just to watch reruns when I believe A&E was airing them. Dogged in his pursuit of Richard Kimble, the doctor accused of murdering his own wife, Gerard did what the law required in bringing a fugitive to justice, but was also sympathetic to Kimble’s one-armed man story. A law enforcement officer dedicated to the law but who can also be kind is a must.

Eliot Ness is the quintessential lawman and the one true law enforcement officer in my dream team. He pursued the laws set in prohibition with a religious fervor and was known for never being bought. It’s like law enforcement today who know, despite the wishes of many who believe marijuana should be legalized, to enforce the laws on the books because they are on the books and would be derelict if they didn’t.

James Gordon, commissioner of the Gotham City Police Department, is another strong law enforcement officer.

He is kind but committed to rid Gotham of its crime problem in the brilliant Dark Knight series. He, like his real life counterpart Ness, may very well be the consummate lawman.

Surprisingly low on the list of contenders is Andy Taylor, fictional sheriff of the town of Mayberry. Blasphemy, you say? Not really, I retort. The only reason I include him is because of his kind, country gentleman philosophy and because he is a wise, single father back when there were few single fathers on television. His constituents would have to watch him carefully because it is revealed in one of the early episodes Deputy Fife is his cousin. I’m sure many of you remember when he and Barney busted the moonshine still he let the spray hit his mouth and a sheriff who doesn’t carry a gun these days would be a death sentence.

So I suppose I would have to say appoint James Gordon as sheriff, make Fox Mulder your chief deputy, Philip Gerard head of investigations and Eliot Ness head of narcotics and don’t consider Andy Taylor for any positions because he’ll want to hire family and appoint Goober and Gomer as special deputies.

Like I say, I’m not making endorsements but I am giving you an idea of what character traits the commissioners should consider when making their appointment — Lance Martin