dissenting:
Because I am firmly convinced that a sheriff and his or her deputies are vested by the Pennsylvania constitution with all the powers and duties of a peace officer, including the authority to arrest for a summary traffic violation committed in his or her presence, I would reverse the trial court’s order suppressing the evidence obtained from Leet as a result of the roadside stop conducted by Deputy Sheriff Gibbons. This conclusion is based upon a careful study of the history of the powers and duties of the sheriff and his traditional role in the enforcement of our criminal laws.1
The word sheriff evolved from the Saxon word “scyre” meaning shire or county, and the word “reve” meaning guardian or keeper. The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, Volume II, 2783-2784 (1971); A.E. Gwynne, Practical Treatise on the Law of Sheriff and *504Coroner, with Forms and References at 2 (1849) (hereinafter Gwynne, Sheriff and Coroner). Instinctively, when we think of a sheriff, we are reminded of Sherwood Forest where the Sheriff of Nottingham was the chief law enforcement officer who possessed far reaching powers. See H. Pyle, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883) (King Henry of England stated to the Sheriff of Nottingham: “[b]ut look well to it, master Sheriff, for I will have my laws obeyed by all men within my kingdom, and if thou art not able to enforce them, thou art no sheriff for me”). The modern sheriffs powers and duties, however, are not as clearly defined.
In Pennsylvania, the office of sheriff is constitutionally created: “[c]ounty officers shall consist of ... sheriffs____” Pa. Const, art. IX, § 4. While our constitution created the sheriffs office, it did not define his powers.2 *505There are, however, two statutory sections which address *506the modern sheriffs powers and duties. The majority, like the suppression court, concludes that these statutes delimit the sheriffs authority. This interpretation has the effect of stripping the constitutional office of the sheriff of any powers not enumerated by the legislature, removing the sheriff from his traditional position as the primary law enforcement officer of the county, and relegating him to a secondary role with duties consisting primarily of serving process and enforcing specific directives of our courts. I cannot agree that the legislature intended, or could constitutionally attempt to achieve, such a result.
Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, in their capacity as peace officers, “shall perform all those duties authorized or imposed on them by statute.” 16 P.S. § 1216. Section 1216, which took effect in 1976, was an unnamed act intended to clarify the powers of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. See Act of June 29, 1976, P.L. 475, No. 121 § 1. The act clearly contemplates legislative action to define those duties further. It does not, however, abolish the common-law duties of the sheriff. That it was not intended to do so was made clear later that same year, when the legislature enacted the Judiciary Act of 1976 amending Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. In section 27(a) of the Judiciary Act, the legislature carefully articulated how the Title 42 amendments would affect certain officers:
[Njeither this act nor any provision of Title 42 (relating to judiciary and judicial procedure) as added by this act shall impair or limit the existing rights, powers, functions or immunities of any district attorney, sheriff, register of wills, prothonotary of any county except the City and County of Philadelphia, clerk of the courts, Clerk of Quarter Sessions of the City and County of Philadelphia, clerk of the orphans’ court division or coroner.
Act of July 9, 1976, P.L. 586, No. 142 § 27(a) (emphasis added). Section 27(a) unmistakably emphasizes the legislature’s intent that sheriffs retain the powers they already possessed.
*507In 1978, the powers and duties of sheriffs were further delineated in the Judiciary Act Repealer Act (“JARA”): “[t]he sheriff, either personally or by deputy, shall serve process and execute orders directed to him pursuant to law.” Act of April 28, 1978, P.L. 202, No. 53 § 10(27) (codified at 42 Pa.C.S. § 2921) (hereinafter JARA 10(27)). JARA also repealed section 27 of the Judiciary Act of 1976 “insofar as inconsistent with the Judiciary Act Repealer Act.” Act of April 28, 1978, P.L. 202, No. 53 § 2(a) (codified at 42 Pa.C.S. § 20002(a) (1474)) (hereinafter JARA 2(a)). Finding this general repeal insufficient to accomplish the goal sought, the legislature, in the Judiciary Act Repealer Act Continuation Act, subsequently repealed the specific portion of section 27(a) of the Judiciary Act which dealt with the powers of the Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, Clerk of the Quarter Sessions and the Clerk of the Orphans’ Court. See Act of December 20, 1982, P.L. 1409, No. 326 § 316 (codified at 42 P.S. § 20076) (hereinafter JARACA 316). This repeal, however, did not affect the sheriff’s office.
From this history it is apparent that the portion of section 27(a) which addresses sheriffs’ powers and duties has not been repealed. Nothing in section 27(a) of the Judiciary Act contradicts any provision of JARA and therefore, JARA 2(a) does not affect section 27(a). JARA 10(27) is not inconsistent with section 27(a), but simply enumerates the sheriff’s duty to serve process and execute court orders. JARA 10(27) does not purport to be an all-inclusive list of a sheriff’s powers and duties and should not be interpreted as one. It is not inconsistent to statutorily define one common law duty of a sheriff while leaving others basically intact.3 *508Codifying one duty does not substantially diminish the sheriffs other common law duties. See generally Soper v. Montgomery County, 294 Md. 331, 337, 449 A.2d 1158, 1161 (1982). Moreover, the legislature, through JARACA 316, specifically repealed a particular portion of section 27(a) of the Judiciary Act. JARACA 316 is an unambiguous legislative statement which must take precedence over JARA 2(a), an earlier enacted general statutory section. Compare JARACA 316 and JARA 2(a); cf. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1933 (if a general provision of a statute and a special provision of the same or a different statute conflict, “the special provisions shall prevail and shall be construed as an exception to the general provision ... ”). Accordingly, the portion of section 27(a) which concerns sheriffs is still in effect.4
The conclusion that section 27(a) is still viable and that JARA 10(27) does not enumerate all of the sheriffs powers is also supported by the principle that neither JARA nor JARACA could constitutionally divest a sheriff of his common law duties. Where the sheriff is a constitutional officer, he is vested with the powers and duties possessed by sheriffs at common law. W. Anderson, A Treatise on the Law of Sheriffs, Coroners and Constables with Forms, Volume 1, § 43 at 37 (1941) (hereinafter Anderson, Sheriffs)') W. Murfree, Sr., A Treatise on the Law of Sheriffs and other Ministerial Officers, § 41 at 22 (1884) (herein*509after Murfree, Sheriffs); 70 Am.Jur.2d Sheriffs, Police, and Constables § 56 at 270 (1987) (hereinafter Sheriffs and Police). “While the legislature may impose additional duties upon the sheriff, where he is recognized as a constitutional officer, it cannot restrict or reduce his powers as allowed by the Constitution, or as they were recognized when the constitution was adopted.” Anderson, Sheriffs, § 43 at 37 (emphasis added); Sheriffs and Police, § 56 at 270; Brownstown Township v. County of Wayne, 68 Mich. App. 244, 248, 242 N.W.2d 538, 539 (1976) (“[t]he Legislature may vary the duties of a constitutional office, but it may not change the duties so as to destroy the power to perform the duties of the office”).
The notion that a statute cannot limit the sheriff’s common law powers and duties is reflected in the deferential language of section 27(a) of the Judiciary Act; subsequent amendments to that Act did not, and could not, alter that constitutionally required deference. Consequently, today, the sheriff possesses the power and the obligation to perform all the duties of a common law sheriff, except so far as those powers and duties may have been modified by our state constitution or enlarged by statute. Anderson, Sheriffs, § 43 at 37; see also Murfree, Sheriffs, § 41 at 22 (“[i]t is competent for the state legislature to impose upon [the sheriff] new duties growing out of public policy or convenience, but it cannot strip him of his time-honored and common-law functions, and devolve them upon the incumbents of other offices created by legislative authority”); 80 C.J.S. Sheriffs and Constables, § 35 at 203-204 (1953) (hereinafter Sheriffs and Constables) (in addition to express constitutional and statutory grants of power, sheriffs also have “such implied authority as is necessary to carry out such express authority”).
Since JARA 10(27) cannot be read as an exclusive list of the modern sheriff’s powers and duties, the scope of those duties must be determined with reference to the powers of *510the office when it was first created.5 This inquiry requires reference in turn to the common law of England under 1 Pa.C.S. § 1503(a), which states:
[t]he common law and such of the Statutes of England as were in force in the Province of Pennsylvania on May 14, 1776 and which were properly adapted to the circumstances of the inhabitants of this Commonwealth shall be deemed to have been in force in this Commonwealth from and after February 10, 1777.
1 Pa.C.S. § 1503(a).
“The office of sheriff is one of the oldest offices known to the common law system of jurisprudence. It is an office of great dignity and greater antiquity.” Anderson, Sheriffs, § 1 at 2.
[Sir Edward] Coke ascribes to [the sheriff] a treble custody, to wit, of the life of justice, of the life of the law, and of the life of the republic; of the life of justice, to serve process and to return indifferent juries for the trial of men’s lives, liberties, lands, and goods; of the life of the law, to make execution, which is the life of the law; and of the life of the republic, to keep peace, etc.
Gwynne, Sheriff and Coroner at 57-58. In his role as peace keeper, the sheriff is “the principal conservator of the peace within his bailiwick.” Commonwealth v. Vandyke, 57 Pa. 34, 39 (1868); see also Anderson, Sheriffs, § 42 at 36-37 (the sheriff is “responsible as conservator of the peace and protector of society against vice and crime”). *511“In short, all legislation tending to secure the peace, order, safety, and comfort of the community, naturally falls within [the sheriffs] province.” Murfree, Sheriffs, § 1172 at 640; see also Elder v. Camp, 193 Ga. 320, 323, 18 S.E.2d 622, 625 (1942) (citation omitted) (“sheriff has the right and duty to ‘enforce the laws enacted for the protection of the lives, persons, property, health, and morals of the people ... ’ ”); State v. Reichman, 135 Tenn. 653, 665, 188 S.W. 225, 228 (1916) (“it is the duty of the sheriff and his deputies to keep their eyes open for evidence of public offenses, and that it is a distinct neglect of duty for them to ignore common knowledge of law violations ... ”).6
Under the common law of England, the sheriffs powers and duties as keeper of the queen’s peace required him to
apprehend, and commit to prison, all persons who break the peace, or attempt to break it; and may bind any one in a recognisance to keep the peace. He may, and is bound ex officio to pursue, and take all traitors, murderers, felons, and other misdoers, and commit them to gaol for safe custody.
H. Broom and E. Hadley, Commentaries on the Laws of England, Volume I at 410 (1869); see also E. Jenks, Stephen’s Commentaries on the Laws of England, Volume I *512at 313-314 (18th ed. 1925). When apprehending criminals, the sheriff could arrest, without a warrant, a person who committed a breach of the peace in his presence or any felon. See id. Volume IV at 275; see also Anderson, Sheriffs, § 166 at 160. When the sheriffs office was transplanted from England to the colonies, including Pennsylvania, its common law role as the primary peace officer of his bailiwick was not substantially altered.7
In Pennsylvania,
[t]he general rule is, ‘A peace officer may, without a warrant, arrest for a felony or a misdemeanor committed in his presence although the right to arrest for a misdemeanor, unless conferred by statute, is restricted to misdemeanors amounting to a breach of the peace.’
Commonwealth v. Pincavitch, 206 Pa.Super. 539, 544, 214 A.2d 280, 282 (1965) (citation omitted). It is apparent from the discussion above that the common law powers of the sheriff included those of a peace officer. As these common law powers have been retained by the sheriff under the Pennsylvania constitution, it follows that the modern sheriff, in accordance with the general rule stated in Pincavitch, retains the common law authority to arrest for breaches of the peace committed in his presence.8 This court has stated:
*513[since] ‘all crimes are offenses against the peace, the phrase ‘breach of the peace’ would seem to extend to all indictable offenses, as well those which are in fact attended with force and violence, as those are only constructive breaches of the peace of the government, inasmuch as they violate its good order.’
Commonwealth v. Magaro, 175 Pa.Super. 79, 82, 103 A.2d 449, 451 (1954), quoting Williamson v. United States, 207 U.S. 425, 444, 28 S.Ct. 163, 169, 52 L.Ed. 278 (1908). It appears then, that any criminal offense constitutes a breach of the peace.
Because the sheriff had, at common law, the authority to make a warrantless arrest for any breach of the peace that was committed in his presence, an authority which was given constitutional dimension when the office of sheriff was incorporated in each of Pennsylvania’s constitutions, it necessarily follows that the office retains identical arrest powers today. Additionally, there is no doubt that any criminal violation constitutes a breach of the peace. Consequently, the modern sheriff is authorized to stop and arrest, without a warrant, someone who violates the Motor Vehicle Code in his presence. See Anderson, Sheriffs, § 153 at 149; see also 69 Op.Ga.Att’y Gen. 385 (1969) (“[t]he enforcement of the criminal law, which inelude[s] traffic regulations, is logically comprehended by the phrase ‘preserving the peace’ ”).9
*514It is true, as Leet contends, that the sheriffs arrest powers date from a period when crimes were defined by the common law and that these common law crimes have since been abolished in Pennsylvania, 18 Pa.C.S. § 107(b), and replaced by the Crimes Code. However, it is a non sequitur to argue that because no common law crimes exist, there are no crimes for which the sheriff may arrest. A distinction must be drawn between the ability to arrest for common law crimes and deriving one’s authority to arrest *515from the common law. The common law imparted to sheriffs the power to arrest for all crimes committed in their presence. While common law crimes have been expressly abrogated, the constitutional powers of the sheriff have not been altered. Because the legislature could not, by redefining crimes, accomplish indirectly what it could not do directly, i.e., truncate the constitutionally endowed powers of the sheriff, it follows that the sheriff retains the authority to arrest without a warrant for all crimes, however defined, committed in his presence.
In my opinion, since Deputy Sheriff Gibbons had the authority to stop Leet for the Motor Vehicle Code violation committed in his presence, it is clear that suppression of the evidence based on the illegality of the stop was improper. However, because this court may affirm the trial court’s order, if correct, on any basis, Soloski v. Hetrick, 396 Pa.Super. 140, 154 n. 8, 578 A.2d 445, 453 n. 8 (1990), further review of the suppression court’s ruling is warranted here. Should the evidence have been suppressed as the result of an illegal search of Leet’s car? A careful review of the record and applicable case law can only lead to the conclusion that the methamphetamine found in the tape deck of Leet’s car was procured during a valid consensual search of Leet’s car and that the evidence seized should have been admitted.
After moving Leet’s car to a safe parking space, Deputy Sheriff Gibbons asked Leet if he would mind opening the paper bags that were in Leet’s car. Following each request, Leet voluntarily opened a bag, eventually opening a bag containing marijuana. The voluntariness of Leet’s consent must be determined by the totality of the circumstances. Commonwealth v. Elliott, 376 Pa.Super. 536, 553, 546 A.2d 654, 663 (1988). Further, the record must disclose that consent was not obtained through the use of duress or coercion. Commonwealth v. Smagala, 383 Pa.Super. 466, 474, 557 A.2d 347, 350 (1989). None of the testimony from the suppression hearing even remotely suggests the exist*516ence of threats, duress, or coercion. Hence, the marijuana was lawfully obtained.
After discovering the marijuana and arresting Leet, the officers began to search Leet’s car.
To justify ... a [warrantless] search ... [of an automobile,] an officer must have independent probable cause to believe that a felony has been committed by the occupants of the vehicle, or that it has been used in the furtherance of the commission of a felony, or the officer must have a basis for believing that evidence of a crime is concealed within the vehicle, or that there are weapons contained therein which are accessible to the occupants.
Commonwealth v. Lewis, 442 Pa. 98, 101, 275 A.2d 51, 52 (1971) (emphasis added); Commonwealth v. Rodriguez, 379 Pa.Super. 24, 28-29, 549 A.2d 578, 580 (1988) allocatur granted, 523 Pa. 649, 567 A.2d 652 (1989); see also Commonwealth v. Milyak, 508 Pa. 2, 8, 493 A.2d 1346, 1349 (1985) (“where there exists probable cause related to the vehicle or its occupants, a search of the vehicle is permissible”); Commonwealth v. York, 381 Pa.Super. 55, 63, 552 A.2d 1092, 1096 (1989) (“[w]here police officers have probable cause to believe a vehicle is carrying contraband, they may conduct a search of the vehicle as thorough as a district justice could authorize in a warrant”). Probable cause to believe that an automobile contains the fruits or instrumentalities of crime exists when the facts available to the officer would warrant such a belief in a man of reasonable caution. Rodriguez, 379 Pa.Super. at 28, 549 A.2d at 580. Here, the smell of marijuana and beer emanating from Leet’s car and the subsequent lawful discovery of both substances inside the car gave rise to probable cause to believe that the car contained additional contraband. Commonwealth v. Duell, 305 Pa.Super. 431, 433, 451 A.2d 724, 725 (1982) (“probable cause to believe that the car might contain further contraband in the form of marijuana or alcohol” arose after police, during a roadside traffic stop, observed an open bottle of wine in the car and smelled marijuana); see also Commonwealth v. Bailey, 376 Pa.Su*517per. 291, 545 A.2d 942 (1988) (warrantless search of entire car was valid even though the defendant had already been arrested and handcuffed, where probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime was concealed in the automobile arose after a policeman observed the defendant holding a clear plastic bag which contained a white powder during the course of a roadside traffic stop); Commonwealth v. Stoner, 236 Pa.Super. 161, 165, 344 A.2d 633, 635 (1975) (probable cause to search automobile arose where, during a routine traffic stop, officer “observed marijuana seeds and leaves in plain view on the floor, seats, and clothing in” defendant’s car); Commonwealth v. Wright, 234 Pa.Super. 83, 86, 339 A.2d 103, 105 (1975) (where officer observed heroin in defendant’s car during a roadside stop, the officer had the “right to search the entire vehicle”).
Thus, it was during the course of a valid search that Leet yelled to the officers that more drugs were hidden in the tape deck, leading to the discovery of the methamphetamine. The only conceivable motivation for Leet’s behavior was his belief that the drugs would inevitably be discovered in the course of the search. I would not characterize a legal search based on probable cause to be a source of duress or coercion or to constitute a threat that would vitiate the voluntariness of Leet’s behavior. Accordingly, it is clear that Leet voluntarily instructed the officers of the location of the methamphetamine. Smagala, supra. Consequently, I would find that the methamphetamine, the drug on which the charges against Leet were based, is admissible at trial.
The foregoing discussion may be summarized as follows: first, that Deputy Sheriff Gibbons possessed the authority to stop Leet for a traffic violation committed in his presence; and second, since Leet voluntarily disclosed during the course of a valid automobile search information leading to the discovery of methamphetamine, the drugs should not have been suppressed. For these reasons, I would reverse the suppression order and remand the case for trial.
FORD ELLIOTT, J., joins.. Although it is unclear whether Deputy Sheriff Gibbons actually arrested Leet, intuitively, the power to stop without a warrant is a logical corollary to the power to arrest without a warrant. If an officer has the authority to make a warrantless arrest, it is unreasonable to require that he get a warrant to make the stop that precedes the arrest. Consequently, this analysis focuses on the sheriffs authority to arrest, and the factual issue of whether Deputy Sheriff Gibbons made an actual arrest, as opposed to an investigatory stop, is immaterial to this analysis.
. The Commonwealth Court has acknowledged that neither our constitution nor our statutes enumerate the sheriffs powers and duties. Quite candidly ... we are somewhat dismayed by our research disclosure that the Legislature has never chosen to enact legislation delineating the general powers, duties, and responsibilities of the sheriff.
Venneri v. County of Allegheny, 12 Pa.Commw. 517, 529, 316 A.2d 120, 126 (1974).
Most jurisdictions have statutorily defined the duties of a sheriff. Moreover, the majority of those statutes have expressly granted sheriffs the authority to arrest without a warrant. See, e.g., Arizona, (Ariz.Rev.Stat.Ann. §§ 1-215(23), 11-441(A)(2), and 13-3883 (1989)); California, (Cal.Penal Code §§ 830.1 and 836 (West 1985 & Supp. 1990)); Colorado, (Colo.Rev.Stat.Ann. §§ 16-3-102 and 18-1-901 (West 1990)); Connecticut, (Conn.Gen.Stat.Ann. §§ 54-lf and 53a-3(9) (1985 & Supp.1990)); Hawaii, (Haw.Rev.Stat. § 601-33 (1985 & Supp.1989)); Illinois, (Ill.Stat.Ann. ch. 125, para. 17 (Smith-Hurd 1967 & Supp.1989)); Indiana, (Ind.Code Ann. § 36-2-13-5 (Burns 1981 & Supp.1989)); Iowa, (Iowa Code §§ 801.4(7)(a) and 804.7 (1979 & Supp.1990)); Kentucky, (Ky.Rev.Stat. §§ 446.010(24) and 431.005 (1985 & Supp.1988)); Maine, (Me.Rev.Stat.Ann. tit. 15 § 704 (1980)); Maryland, (Md.Ann.Code art. 27, §§ 594B(a) and 594B(g)(9) (1988 & Supp.1989)); Missouri, (Mo.Ann.Stat. § 544.216 (Vernon 1987)); Nevada, (Nev.Rev.Stat. §§ 169.125(2) and 171.124 (1987)); New Hampshire (N.H.Rev.Stat.Ann. §§ 594:10 and 594:1(III) (1986 & Supp. 1989)); New Jersey, (N.J.Rev.Stat. § 2A:157-2.1 (1985)); New York, (N.Y.Crim.Proc.Law §§ 1.20(34)(b), 140.10, 140.25 and 2.10(2) (McKinney 1981 & Supp.1990)); North Dakota, (N.D.Cent.Code §§ 29-05-10 and 29-06-02 (1974 & Supp.1989)); Ohio, (Ohio Rev. *505Code Ann. § 2935.03(A) (1975 & Supp.1989)); Oklahoma, (Okla.Stat. Ann. tit. 22, § 196 (1969 & Supp.1990), Okla.Stat.Ann. tit. 21, § 99 (1983)); South Carolina (S.C.Code Ann. § 23-13-60 (Law.Co-op. 1977)); South Dakota, (S.D.Codified Laws Ann. § 7-12-1 (1981), S.D. Codified Laws Ann. §§ 23A-3-2 and 23A-45-9(9) (1988)); Texas, (Tex. Code Crim.Proc.Ann. arts. 2.12 and 2.13 (Vernon 1977 & Supp.1990)); Utah, (Utah Code Ann. §§ 77-1a-1(1)(a)(i) and 77-7-2 (1990), Utah Code Ann. § 17-22-2(1)(b) (1987 & Supp.1989)); Vermont, (Vt.R. Crim.P. 3(a) and 54(c)(6)); Virginia, (Va.Code Ann. § 19.2-81 (1983 & Supp.1989)); West Virginia (W.Va.Code § 62-10-9 (1989)); Wisconsin, (Wis.Stat.Ann. §§ 967.02(5) and 968.07(1)(d) (West 1985), Wis. Stat.Ann. § 59.24 (West 1988)); Wyoming, (Wyo.Stat.Ann. §§ 7-2-101(a)(iv)(A) and 7-2-103 (1987).
Several other jurisdictions, while not granting express authority to make warrantless arrests, have interpreted their arrest statutes as allowing sheriffs to make such arrests. See, e.g., Florida, (Fl.Stat.Ann. §§ 30.07 and 30.15 (West 1988), Fl.Stat.Ann. § 901.15 (West 1985 & Supp.1990), Fields v. State, 160 Fla. 877, 878, 36 So.2d 919, 920 (1948) (court justified a deputy sheriffs warrantless arrest by stating that “[t]he law of [Florida] by statute makes the sheriff and the deputy sheriff officers to conserve the peace and authorizes them to make arrests”), 72 Fl. Att’y Gen.Op. 381 (1972)); Louisiana, (La.Code Crim. Proc.Ann. art. 213 (West 1967 & Supp.1990), Castriotta v. Cronvich, 277 So.2d 744, 746 (La.Ct.App.1973) (warrantless arrest for a misdemeanor committed in the presence of the deputy sheriff was “authorized by virtue of Article 213 of the Code of Criminal Procedure”)); Michigan, (Mich.Comp.Laws § 764.15 (1982 & Supp.1990), People v. Robinson, 344 Mich. 353, 364, 74 N.W.2d 41, 42 (1955) (“[authority of a deputy sheriff of the county to arrest or stop defendant for a misdemeanor committed in the officer’s presence cannot be questioned”)); Minnesota, (Minn.Stat.Ann. § 387.03 (West 1968), Minn. Stat.Ann. §§ 626.84 and 629.34 (West 1983 & Supp.1990), Bielejeski v. Commissioner of Public Safety, 351 N.W.2d 664, 666 (Minn.Ct.App. 1984) (deputy sheriff, who was also a policeman, effectuated a warrantless arrest outside of the police’s jurisdiction but the court held that "the officer had the power to arrest as a Crow Wing County Sheriff’)); North Carolina, (N.C.Gen.Stat. § 15A-401(b) (1988) State v. Gray, 55 N.C.App. 568, 286 S.E.2d 357 (1982) (warrantless arrest by a deputy sheriff was valid under N.C.Gen.Stat. § 15A-401(b)).
Many other state statutes authorize the sheriff to arrest criminals as part of his duties without indicating whether the sheriff may make warrantless arrests for all crimes committed in the sheriff’s presence. See, e.g., Alabama, (Ala.Code § 36-22-3(4) (1977); Arkansas, (Ark. Stat.Ann. § 14-15-503(b) (1987)); Idaho, (Idaho Code § 31-2202(2) (1983 & Supp.1989)); Massachusetts (Mass.Gen.L. ch. 37 § 11 (1985) and ch. 276 § 28 (1972 & Supp.1990); Mississippi, (Miss.Code Ann. § 99-3-1 (1973 & Supp.1989)); Montana, (Mont.Code Ann. § 7-32-2121(2) (1989)); Nebraska (Neb.Rev.Stat. § 23-1710 (1987)); Oregon, (Or.Rev.Stat. § 206.010(1) (1989)); Tennessee, (Tenn.Code Ann. § 8-8-213 (1988)); Washington, (Wash.Rev.Code Ann. § 36.28.010 (West 1964 & Supp.1990)).
. There are two conflicting methods of interpreting our legislature’s codification of one common law duty. First, utilizing the general rule of statutory construction that expressio unius est exclusio alterius, "that which is not included in the law shall be understood as excluded from the law,” Commonwealth v. DeFusco, 378 Pa.Super. 442, 446, 549 A.2d 140, 141 (1988), it can be argued that JARA 10(27) prescribes all of the modern sheriff’s powers. However, JARA 10(27) does not contain any language which supports reading it as an exclusive list. Moreover, such a reading would render section 27(a) meaningless.
*508Ascribing no meaning to section 27(a) would contravene the express rule of statutory construction that statutes relating to the same "things,” must, if possible, be read together, as one consistent statute. 1 Pa.C.S. § 1932. It is possible to read JARA 10(27) and section 27(a) together and assign each one meaning. When this method of construction is applied, it becomes apparent that the sheriffs statutorily defined powers are supplemented by his traditional common law powers and duties. I would adopt this latter interpretation because it is derived from principles enunciated in our Statutory Construction Act, 1 Pa.C.S. § 1501 etseq., and, as elucidated on page 1043, infra, the legislature cannot limit the sheriffs common law powers by statute.
. Although the majority relies heavily upon JARA 10(27)(42 Pa.C.S. § 2921) in building his argument that the legislature has stripped sheriffs of their authority to arrest, notably absent from Judge Wie- and’s opinion is any explanation of the legislature’s intent with regard to section 27(a), nor any explication of the foundation upon which the legislature’s power to alter the fundamental nature of a constitutionally created office could rest.
. Our present constitution was adopted in 1968. However, our constitutions have always provided for the sheriffs office. See, e.g., Pa. Const. § 31 (1776) (repealed) ("[s]heriffs and coroners shall be elected annually in each city and county ...”); Pa. Const. art. VI, § 1 (1790) (repealed) ("[s]heriffs and coroners shall, at the times and places of election of representatives, be chosen by the citizens of each county ...”); Pa. Const, art. VI, § 1 (1838) (repealed) ("[s]heriffs and coroners shall, at the times and places of election of representatives, be chosen by the citizens of each county”); Pa. Const. art. XIV, § 1 (1874) (repealed) (”[c]ounty officers shall consist of sheriffs ...”). Because the office of the sheriff has been perpetuated in each of these charters without specification or limitation of its powers, it is fair to conclude that the modern sheriff retains those powers which were understood to be inherent in the office at the time it was codified in the 1776 constitution.
. The sheriff’s duty to preserve the peace is heightened when he knows that a particular area is not adequately patrolled by local authorities. See Sheriffs and Police, § 47 at 262; Sheriffs and Constables, § 42(c) at 213; see also Soper, 294 Md. at 338, 449 A.2d at 1162 (in counties where a police force has not been established, the sheriff provides local law enforcement and executes all duties otherwise performed by policemen); Brownstown Township, 68 Mich.App. at 251, 242 N.W.2d at 541. In Clarion County, Pennsylvania, for example, one night a week during the summer months, the Clarion County Sheriffs Office provides a deputy sheriff to patrol townships and boroughs that have not established a police force. See The Clarion News (July 26, 1989). Even if a jurisdiction within the sheriff s county has established its own police force, the sheriff’s powers and duties are not diminished. See Soper, 294 Md. at 337, 449 A.2d at 1161 (“[w]e shall note that ordinarily [the common law powers of a sheriff] are concurrent with the powers now ordinarily exercised by police officers”); Wolfe v. Huff, 232 Ga. 44, 45, 205 S.E.2d 254, 255 (1974) (”[e]ven when a county police force is established, the power and authority of the sheriff to enforce the law and preserve the peace is not legally diminished. Both should act cooperatively and in concert to achieve this desired purpose”).
. In the United States, the English common law was altered only to allow the sheriff to arrest for all offenses attempted or committed in his presence, without a warrant. Murfree, Sheriffs, § 169 at 163; Anderson, Sheriffs, § 1161 at 629; see also Reichman, 135 Tenn. at 664, 188 S.W. at 228; cf. United States v. Watson, 423 U.S. 411, 418, 96 S.Ct. 820, 825, 46 L.Ed.2d 598 (1976) ("the ancient common-law rule [was] that a peace officer was permitted to arrest without a warrant for a misdemeanor or felony committed in his presence as well as for a felony not committed in his presence if there was reasonable grounds for making the arrest”).
. The Pennsylvania Crimes Code, which defines the term "peace officer," was not enacted until 1973. See 18 Pa.C.S. § 501. Therefore, the Code’s definition is not controlling in determining whether the sheriff was a peace officer at common law, and whether the sheriff falls within the purview of the the Pineavitch court’s description of the powers of a "peace officer."
However, I believe that the sheriff is a "peace officer" as defined by the Crimes Code. A "peace officer” is ”[a]ny person who by virtue of *513his office or public employment is vested by law with the duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for offenses whether that duty extends to all offenses or is limited to specific offenses____” 18 Pa.C.S. § 501 (emphasis added). As I have discussed, the office of the sheriff has always been charged with the duty to maintain public order.
. Our Motor Vehicle Code allows uniformed Pennsylvania State Police Officers to make warrantless arrests for violations occurring in their presence. 75 Pa.C.S. § 6304(a). Further, other uniformed police officers may arrest, without a warrant, nonresidents found committing code violations. 75 Pa.C.S. § 6304(b). These sections do not preclude the sheriff from performing a warrantless arrest.
As previously noted, a statute cannot extinguish the common law powers and duties of a constitutional officer. See supra at p. 496-497. Moreover, "[t]he powers of arrest conferred by [section 6304] are in *514addition to any other powers of arrest conferred by law." 75 Pa.C.S. § 6304(c). This clearly evidences the legislature’s intent that section 6304 is not, as the majority states, an exclusive list of those officers authorized to make warrantless arrests. Because, as outlined above, the common law and our constitution confer upon the sheriff the power to arrest for any violation of a criminal statute occurring in his presence, 75 Pa.C.S. § 6304(a) and (b) should not be construed to limit the power to make warrantless arrests to state and local policemen.
In Commonwealth v. Galloway, 525 Pa. 12, 574 A.2d 1045 (1990), the Commonwealth argued that an investigator for the Attorney General’s Office possessed the power to stop and arrest a motorist violating the Motor Vehicle Code. Our supreme court disagreed. The Commonwealth Attorney’s Act, 71 P.S. § 732-101 et seq., grants members of the Attorney General’s Office the power to arrest but restricts that power to arrests made in connection with the investigation and prosecution of offenses enumerated in 71 P.S. § 732-205. 525 Pa. at 18, 574 A.2d at 1048. The court acknowledged that if enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Code was listed as a duty in section 732-205, by virtue of 75 Pa.C.S. § 6304(c), the investigator would possess the power to arrest for violations of that Code. However, section 732-205 does not mention enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Code. Hence, the power to stop for a Motor Vehicle Code violation was not otherwise "conferred by law" as required by 75 Pa.C.S. § 6304(c) and accordingly, the investigator had no authority to arrest for Motor Vehicle Code violations. See Galloway, 525 Pa. at 14-15, 574 A.2d at 1046.
Galloway’s holding that members of the Attorney General’s Office cannot stop motorists for Motor Vehicle Code violations does not affect the conclusion that the sheriff does possess such power. Galloway is easily distinguished because it is based wholly on the supreme court’s interpretation of the scope of power conferred on the Attorney General by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Act. This Act does not purport to regulate the powers and duties of a sheriff and therefore the Act, and the Galloway decision, are not dispositive of the issue before this court. However, the Galloway court expressly recognized that arrest powers can arise from sources other than section 6304. 525 Pa. at 18-19 n. 2, 574 A.2d at 1048 n. 2. Thus, our statutes do not preclude this court from looking to the common law as the origin of the sheriffs arrest powers.