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As the sheriff of Maycomb County, Heck Tate’s primary responsibility is to keep the community safe by enforcing the letter of the law. He has a rather intimidating presence, especially considering his bullet-studded belt and large rifle, but Scout eventually learns to see through this image and invites the reader to do so as well. Lee includes a number of moments throughout the novel which highlight Mr. Tate’s weaknesses as a sheriff, emphasizing the idea that he is an average man despite his significant position of authority. When he responds to Calpurnia’s call about the mad dog, for example, Mr. Tate implores Atticus to take the shot. This fear of failure also emerges during his conversation with Atticus about moving Tom to the county jail. Knowing how controversial the Robinson trial is, he admits that he may not be able to quell any unrest that arises during the night. The hesitant and distant approach he takes to Tom’s case initially makes it difficult for both Scout and the reader to grasp his views on justice. After all, Mr. Tate was the one who arrested Tom in the immediate aftermath of the alleged crime.
During his time on the witness stand, he appears to corroborate Mr. Ewell’s claims during Mr. Gilmer’s questioning period. When Mr. Tate begins answering Atticus’s questions about Mayella’s injuries, however, he picks up on Atticus’s strategy and offers additional details which make it impossible to believe that man who is unable to use his left hand could have been the attacker. This shift serves as the first real indication of Mr. Tate’s commitment to fairness. In the end, it is the way that Mr. Tate handles the attack on the Finch children that cements him as a believer in moral law above all else. Evidence clearly suggests that Boo Radley killed Bob Ewell in order to save Jem and Scout, but Mr. Tate insists that Mr. Ewell fell on his knife and died. He explains to Atticus that, in addition to stopping a crime from being committed, Boo’s act helped avenge Tom’s death. Moral law, Mr. Tate argues, should take precedence over all else.
