Law Enforcement Division

The Law Enforcement Division is comprised of the Patrol Bureau and the Criminal Investigations Bureau. Each bureau has in it various assigned units. Chief of Operations Audie Rowell oversees the entire Law Enforcement Division.

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 Bart Smith District 2Lieutenant Bart Smith
District 2
[email protected]

Lieutenant Ben Dowdy District 3Lieutenant Ben Dowdy
District 3
[email protected]

Lieutenant John CheekLieutenant John Cheek
District 4
[email protected]

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU

The Criminal Investigations Bureau is supervised by Captain Dustin Cosson. 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