Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
The
Patrol unit is considered the backbone of the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
as it is not only the largest division within the Sheriff's Office, it is also
the most visible. The responsibility of this unit is to maintain a safe and
orderly environment for citizens and visitors in all areas of Okaloosa County. When assistance is requested from the Sheriff's Office,
the deputy responding will most likely be a member of the Patrol Unit. These deputies are
in constant contact with the public and answer a variety of calls.
Commanded by Major Larry Donaldson, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Patrol Unit is made up of uniformed patrol deputies who provide law enforcement
services 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. These deputies are
encompassed within two regions of the county: North and South. The North
region includes the area north of Duke Field to the Alabama state line,
mainl
y the Crestview area which is supervised by Captain Dale Griffith. The South region consists of the areas
south of Duke Field to the Gulf of Mexico, including Destin which is supervised
by Captain Paul Brown and Captain Tony Wasden. Together they patrol 999 square miles of Okaloosa
County.
Patrol deputies handle a varied range of calls from noise complaints to homicides. For this reason, these deputies must have in-depth knowledge of the law and must be well-rounded law enforcement officers. Okaloosa County Sheriff's patrol deputies responded to approximately 174,000 incidents in 2005, or an average of 476 calls per day.
For citizens interested in the opportunity to observe police operations and functions of the patrol deputies, the Sheriff's Office offers a ride along program. Anyone who wishes to ride along with a deputy must sign a Waiver of Liability for the Sheriff's Office. Additional information regarding this program can be obtained by contacting Capt. Paul Brown (North Okaloosa) at (850) 689-5069 or and Capt. Tony Wasden (South Okaloosa) at (850) 609-3054.
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
1250 North Eglin Parkway
Shalimar, FL 32579
(850) 651-7410