Law Enforcement Division

White male with dark brown beard wearing a dark green Class A Sheriff's Office uniformDustin Cosson
Major Over Law Enforcement Operations

The Law Enforcement Division, led by Major Dustin Cosson, is structured into three specialized bureaus: the Patrol Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, and School Resource Bureau. Each bureau oversees a range of dedicated units, strategically assigned to carry out specific law enforcement functions. This organization ensures efficient operations and comprehensive coverage across the division’s responsibilities.

PATROL BUREAU

The Patrol Bureau is led by Captain Scott Hogeboom. This bureau is responsible for all four patrol districts in Walton County. Uniformed patrol deputies are assigned to each district based on calls for service, response time, crime rate and population.

Patrol Districts

  • District 1: DeFuniak Springs, Paxton, and Mossy Head
  • District 2: Freeport, Choctaw Beach, Bruce, and Red Bay
  • District 3: County Road 393 to the Okaloosa County line
  • District 4: County Road 393 to the Bay County line

Each district is assigned a district lieutenant who will meet with citizens, civic organizations, victims and business owners to share concerns. District Lieutenants are also responsible for sharing trends of criminal activity occurring in the district and ensuring that citizens, visitors, victims, and outside agencies receive professional service. Please feel free to contact your District Lieutenant for any assistance you may need.

District Lieutenants

Lieutenant James Pitman District 1Lieutenant James Pitman
District 1
[email protected]

Lieutenant Tabitha Lecuyer District 2Lieutenant Tabitha Lecuyer
District 2
[email protected]

Lieutenant James Maloy District 3Lieutenant James Maloy
District 3
[email protected]

Lieutenant Jonathan GaydosLieutenant Jonathan Gaydos
District 4
[email protected]

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU

The Criminal Investigations Bureau is supervised by Captain Benjamin Dowdy. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office investigators in the Criminal Investigations Bureau handle major, multi-jurisdictional investigations and intelligence gathering on suspected criminals. All investigators work closely with outside agencies such as the Medical Examiner’s Office, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Children & Family Services, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Fire Marshal’s Office, State Attorney’s Office, and other local, state and national law enforcement agencies.

Criminal Investigation Bureau Units

  • Major Crimes
  • Narcotics
  • Evidence
  • Special Victim’s Unit
  • Domestic Violence
  • Victim Advocate
  • Cyber Crimes

SCHOOL RESOURCE BUREAU

The School Resource Bureau is led by Captain Chris Lehman and is composed of over thirty dedicated deputies serving all public schools in Walton County, along with select private schools. These deputies play a vital role in ensuring the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff while also fostering positive relationships between law enforcement and the community. In addition to providing a strong security presence, School Resource Deputies mentor students, educate them on safety and legal matters, and work closely with school administrators to maintain a safe learning environment. The bureau collaborates with local, state, and national agencies to enhance school safety initiatives and provide essential resources for crime prevention and emergency preparedness.