Characterizing Sheriff Ozzie Walls

Ozzie Walls is the sheriff of Ford County, Mississippi in A Time to Kill by John Grisham.  He is an African-American and he is respected by the citizens of Ford County, who are mostly white.  He played football in college and then went to play professionally for the Rams.  An injury caused him to come back home to Mississippi.  He has authority over others and criminals fear him.  He can relate to Jason Bourne, because he is a good person, but he can be tough when he needs to be.  Like Bourne, he is without fear and he will do whatever is necessary to carry out the law, just like Bourne would do what ever is necessary to protect himself.  Although Boune did not have legal authority over others, he had physical authority over them so Bourne and Ozzie are very similar.  This scene shows how Sheriff Ozzie has authority and he can scare criminals, "Looney handed Ozzie the longest, blackest nightstick ever used in Ford County.  Willard was panic-stricken.  Ozzie cocked it and struck the center of the table, sending beer and cans and foam in all directions."