Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
provides law enforcement and security services to the courthouses of Okaloosa
County. The primary duties of the members of Court Security include maintaining
order in the courtrooms and judge's chambers, assure the safety of court
personnel and the general public when visiting the courthouse, and assuring that
no weapons are brought on courthouse premises. During criminal jury trials,
Court Security is responsible for the jurors during court, recesses, and
transportation to and from meals. If a jury is sequestered, Court Security makes
hotel arrangements for all jurors and remains with jurors to assure their safety
and make sure they are not contacted or otherwise informed of information,
outside of the courtroom, involving the case for which they are serving as a
juror.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Court Security is supervised by Lieutenant Tom Ruffin who is located in the Shalimar Courthouse Annex. There are currently ten bailiffs assigned to Court Security in Okaloosa County. Six are located at the Courthouse Annex in Shalimar and two are located in the Crestview Courthouse. Each bailiff is assigned to a judge and assignments rotate every 90 days. Two bailiffs are regularly assigned to busy courtroom dates involving Felony Criminal, County Misdemeanor, and Juvenile Delinquency Court. A bailiff's responsibility can be quite stressful during high volume and /or high profile cases, and cases involving emotional issues such as family court or domestic injunctions.
Okaloosa County Sheriff's
Office
1250 North Eglin parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410