2015 is Okaloosa County’s Centennial. Deputy Daniel “Pat” Jenkins presented “100 Years of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office” for the March 3rd First Tuesday Series program at the Crestview Public Library. Jenkins highlighted events during the tenure of each of the 15 sheriffs who have served Okaloosa County, from Sheriff Sutton, appointed by the Florida Governor in 1915, to our present Sheriff Larry Ashley.
Interesting stories and notable cases include the Blackwell brothers murder of Bud and Nancy Davis; the formation of the first pair of K-9s; the untimely death of Sheriff John M. Summerlin after only two weeks in office; bootlegging in the 20s and 30s; the removal of Sheriff Enzor by the Governor in 1950 for failure to enforce strict gambling laws, and his subsequent election back into office by the citizens. Jenkins will also discuss training and requirements to become a law enforcement office and how it has changed over the years.
