[2] As in Moonrunners from which The Dukes of Hazzard TV series evolved, in the first season the character's name is given as "Rosco Coltrane".
The "One Armed Bandits" episode also explained that Rosco had served Hazzard County for 20 years as "a fairly honest lawman" but became embittered after his pension was wiped out following a failed bond referendum, and with just a few months left in office he was forced to run for re-election instead of retiring.
Starting with the third season (1980–1981), Rosco got a pet dog—a lazy basset hound he calls "Flash" and nicknames "Velvet Ears" which he dotes on.
Rosco carries a pearl-handled Smith & Wesson Model 15 (a Smith & Wesson Model 10 in the pilot episode, and also the opening credits for the show), with which he is an expert shot, although when he has to use it in the line of duty, he gets too nervous to hit anything (the exception being the first-season episode, "Mary Kaye's Baby" when he shot a criminal in a shoot out).
"[1] One aspect of Rosco's personality that was well-loved and became synonymous with him was a choppy and excited chuckle that was produced from the back of the throat ("Kew-kew-kew-kew!")
Rosco has shown on numerous occasions (especially on episodes where characters either were thought to have died or found themselves in serious trouble) that he is much more of a caring man than he ordinarily lets on.
His gripe was that he did not mind getting soaked or covered in mud when filming Rosco crashing his car into rivers and such, but was unhappy with the poor changing facilities afterwards.
During his absence, Rosco was replaced by a number of stand-in sheriffs (played by such actors as James Hampton and Dick Sargent).
Rosco inherited his money (and documents of dirty schemes) and he also became Hazzard County's Commissioner as well as serving as Sheriff.