About The Office

The Daviess County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency for areas outside the Owensboro corporate limits but has countywide jurisdiction to patrol, enforce laws, and make arrests in all areas of the county to include the cities of Owensboro (county seat) and Whitesville, as well as the census-designated areas of Curdsville, Knottsville, Maceo, Masonville, Mosleyville, Panther, Pleasant Ridge, and Utica; and many unincorporated areas within the 483 square miles of Daviess County. Per the Kentucky constitution, the DCSO is also responsible for the collection of property taxes, civil process service, warrant service, judicial security, inmate transportation, and participates on the county election board. The DCSO also works with many other sheriff’s offices to provide services as needed in those counties and can also call on those agencies for assistance when needed. Kentucky is unique because Kentucky Sheriffs are not responsible for jails. In addition to electing a County Sheriff every four years, Kentuckians also elect a County Jailer whose duties include operating the County Jail, overseeing inmates, and conducting various detention programs. The Daviess County Detention Center is located at 3337 HWY 144 in Owensboro. 



The DCSO employs a staff of 70 deputies and civilians. Each employee is assigned to one of four divisions within the office. 

The Patrol Division consists of three patrol shifts that provide 24 hour per day coverage as well as a part-time presence at the Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport during commercial flight operations. Patrol Deputies respond to calls for service, conduct traffic enforcement, patrol our roads, highways and neighborhoods, conduct follow up investigations, and assist the Judicial Security Unit with out of county prisoner transports. 

The Criminal Investigations Division is made up of the General Investigations Unit which investigates felony crimes and other serious incidents that exceed the Patrol Division’s scope of operations, the Special Investigations Unit which investigates drug and gang crimes and other serious quality of life concerns, and the Forensics Investigations Unit which specializes in examining and analyzing evidence from technical sources such as phones and computers. DCSO also has Detectives assigned to the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force, the Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement & Special Investigations Task Force, and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force. We also maintain a Victims Advocate to safeguard a victim’s rights, mental health, and other needs during the investigative and court phases of a case. 

The Administrative Division is responsible for many of the non-law enforcement aspects of the agency to include hiring and training of personnel, the administration of estates, overseeing supply and equipment distribution, and the Judicial Security Unit. 

The Tax Division operates our administrative offices and oversees tax collection, CCDW permit applications and issuance, performs vehicle inspections, records entry, police report services, and human resources. 

Many DCSO deputies participate in additional duty assignments such as the Accident Reconstruction Unit, Drone/UAS Unit, Sniper/DM Unit, Training Instructor Unit, Law Enforcement Chaplain Unit, Crisis Negotiations Unit, Tactical Emergency Medical Services Unit, and serve on one of our many Volunteer Fire Departments. 

All DCSO Deputies are certified peace officers under Kentucky’s Peace Officer Professional Standards. To obtain certification through the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, they must successfully complete Basic Training at the Law Enforcement Training Center (Police Academy) at the Department of Criminal Justice Training located on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky. Following the academy each deputy completes a 12-week Field Training Program before being placed on solo patrol. To maintain their certification, each deputy must complete forty hours of in-service training annually.

The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office is located in the Daviess County Courthouse at 212 Saint Ann Street. While our law enforcement functions are operational 24 hours per day each day of the year, the administrative office is open for business Monday through Friday 8:00 to 4:30 (excluding legal holidays) and conducts tax collection, concealed carry deadly weapons permit issuance, vehicle inspections, and police reports services. DCSO also has a Field Office located in Whitesville City Hall with a part-time presence.