About
About the Sheriff’s Office
Since 1798, forty-five people have held the Office of Ross County Sheriff.
Sheriff George W. Lavender, Jr.
“As your Sheriff, I will ensure that my deputies will treat you with respect, honesty, and truthfulness.”
Sheriff Lavender has served as Ross County Sheriff since 2009.
Letter from the SheriffLeadership
Command staff
Sheriff George W. Lavender, Jr.
Sheriff
Chief Deputy T.J. Hollis
Chief of Staff
Chief Deputy Gary Clever
Jail Administrator
Major Michael E. Preston
Law Division
Major Dana Hutton
U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force
Captain Glenn Detty
Civil Commander, Offender Registration
Captain Larry Bamfield
Road Patrol Captain
Captain Max Adair
Detective Commander
Gwendolin Thomas
Human Resources Director
Divisions
How the office is organized
Law Division
Road patrol, detectives, court services and security, and inmate transport.
Corrections Division
The Ross County Jail, jail support services and inmate programming.
Civil Division
Paper service, sheriff sales, accounts, records and concealed handgun licensing.
Dispatch
24-hour dispatch at 740-773-1185.
U.S. 23 Major Crimes Task Force
Commanded by Major Dana Hutton. 740-775-1208.
Special Services & Community Corrections
Community services, D.A.R.E., offender registration, and the Terry Collins Re-Entry Center.
History
Since 1798
Jeremiah McLain became the first Ross County Sheriff in October 1798. Since then, forty-five people have held the office.
Recent sheriffs
- Fred J. Heinzelman, 1956 to 1977
- Thomas L. Hamman, 1977 to 1993
- William B. Knott, 1993 to 1996
- Ronald L. Nichols, 1996 to 2008
- George W. Lavender Jr., 2009 to present
