Staff

Sheriff Doug Cox
Doug Cox graduated from Franklin Community High School and attended Old Dominion University. After serving in the United States Marine Corps for four years, he was hired by the Franklin Police Department before being hired by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Doug has advanced through positions of Patrolman, Canine handler, Deputy, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Chief Deputy, and was elected to serve as Sheriff. Sheriff Doug Cox has received training from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and has training specializations in areas of Canine Handler, SWAT, Honor Guard, Evidence Technician, and Motorcycle patrol. Sheriff Doug Cox has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including Officer of the Year, and a Life Saving award. As the Elected Sheriff, Doug will direct 153 Sheriff’s Office employees and oversee a seven million dollar budget.

Administrative Staff

Colonel Randy E. Werden, Chief Deputy
Randy Werden graduated from Whiteland High School and attended Vincennes University, graduating with an Associate of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. Randy began his law enforcement career in 1979. Through the years, he has worked for the Indianapolis Airport Police Department and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Randy has advanced through positions of Reserve Deputy, Police Officer, Deputy, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Major – serving eight years as the Enforcement Division Commander. During his career, Chief Deputy Werden has participated on many specialty teams/units, including K9 Handler, Hostage Negotiator, Field Training Officer, Honor Guard Team, and Scuba Team Commander. Colonel Werden has received training from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and enhanced training in Hostage and Terrorist Negotiation, Fast water rescue, Ice Rescue Instructor course, Instructor Development, Drug Interdiction, and numerous other Dive team, K9, and other specialty related courses. Chief Deputy Werden has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including Officer of the Year, Top Gun Award, Mothers Against Drunk Driving awards, and a Life Saving award. In his position as Chief Deputy of the Sheriff’s Office, Colonel Werden will oversee the Sheriff’s Office in the absence of the Sheriff, and will direct the day-to-day activities of the Investigations, Enforcement, and Jail Divisions, as well as supervising Courthouse Security and Administrative personnel.

Major Jerry L. Pickett, Enforcement Division Commander
Jerry Pickett graduated from Whiteland High School and attended Vincennes University. Jerry began his law enforcement career in 1983. Jerry has worked in both the Jail Division and the Road Division of the Sheriff’s Office, advancing through the ranks of Reserve Deputy, Deputy, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Major Pickett served for a decade as a K9 handler and has served on the SWAT team, where he has been the SWAT Team Commander for the last five years. Major Pickett received training from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, and enhanced training in multiple K9 schools, multiple schools of Management and Supervision, and SWAT schools with focuses on Planning Missions and Liability. Major Pickett has received numerous awards throughout his career, including Officer of the Year, a Meritorious Service Award, three recognition awards from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization, and a Life Saving award. In his position as Enforcement Division Commander, Major Pickett will oversee the daily operations of the Road Division.

Major Bob Sexton, Investigations Division Commander
Bob Sexton graduated from Franklin Community High School and attended Indiana University graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Business. Bob began his law enforcement career in 1983. During his service with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Bob has served in positions of Reserve Deputy, Corrections Officer, Deputy, Detective, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. Major Sexton serves as the Sheriff’s Hostage and Crisis Intervention Team Leader. Major Sexton has received training from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, Reid Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Advanced Reid Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Reid Child Abuse Investigation course, Wicklander-Zulawski and Associates Interview school, Child Abuse Interview course, Homicide Investigation course, Voice Stress Advanced Examiner course, and several additional Investigation related courses. In his position as Investigations Division Commander, Major Sexton will oversee daily operations of a staff of ten Criminal and Narcotics Detectives.

Major Duane E. Burgess, Jail Division Commander
Duane Burgess graduated from Center Grove High School and Central Nine Vocational School. Duane began his law enforcement career in 1988. During his service with the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Duane has served in positions of Dispatcher until being hired as a Corrections Officer on January 1, 1990. As a Corrections Officer, Duane handled Court Security, Inmate Processing, and Jail Security. Duane attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, graduating in class 92-109. Major Burgess has also served as a Deputy, Criminal Detective, Narcotics Detective, and Sergeant. Major Burgess has participated in the Sheriff’s Honor Guard, Dive Team, Public Information, Dare program, Instructor Development and an Advisor to the Explorer Post – which received the Post of the Year honor while under his leadership. Major Burgess has received training from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, ILEA Jail School, Domestic Violence training, Reid Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Advanced Reid Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Crimes Against Children Investigations, ILEA Chiefs School, DEA Certified Methamphetamine Lab Technician, and ILEA Instructor school. Major Burgess has been recognized by receiving awards from the White River Township Fire Department, an Exploring Post Advisor of the Year recipient, and a Life Saving award. In his position as Jail Division Commander, Major Burgess will oversee daily operations of the Johnson County Jail and a staff of many Corrections Officers.

Abby E. Hamilton, Jail Division Matron
Abby Hamilton graduated from Eastern Hancock High School and attended Vincennes University and Indiana University graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Law Enforcement. Abby began her law enforcement career in 1994. Through the years, Abby has worked for the Vincennes University Police Department, Cincinnati Police, Marion County Justice Agency, Marion County Superior Court Probation Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Abby has advanced through positions of Police Cadet, Police Recruit, Conditional Release Supervisor, Pretrial Supervisor, Program Coordinator, and Special Deputy. During her service in Marion County, Matron Hamilton participated on the Multi-Agency Countywide Warrant Team Sweeps. Matron Hamilton has received training from the Cincinnati Police Division Academy, and has attended the Indiana Law Enforcement Agency Jail School course. In her position as Jail Matron, Abby will be responsible for the care of female inmates detained in the Johnson County Jail. In addition, the Matron oversees the Kitchen, Medical Office, Jail Programs, Commissary, answers grievances from inmates, and other duties as assigned by the Sheriff.

Grant Black, Director of Communications
The 911 County Coordinator is The County's Single Point of Contact for ALL activities associated with 911 and interfacing systems (CAD, GIS). Black's duties include, but are not limited to:

• Adding or modifying new streets, street segments, ranges and/or Public Safety jurisdictional responsibility assignments in the County's MSAG. The County's 911 MSAG (Master Street Address Guide) is owned and maintained entirely by the County and only one person (911 County Coordinator) can submit additions or changes. Lack of MSAG care and maintenance can result 911 call routing and display problems.
• All activities associated with daily error correction for all Serving Telephone Companies (when records error due to an addressing or MSAG problem)
• Identifying and correcting problematic addresses in the 911 data base
• Identifying and correcting problematic streets/ranges in the County's MSAG
• Resolving conflicts surrounding streets, overlapping ranges, and spelling of street and/or community names between the MSAG and a Telephone Company's street data base
• Responsible for all county work required relative to 911 as a result of City or County Annexations where Public Safety Responders are impacted.
• Proactive submission of streets in new subdivisions prior to telephone service being ordered so 911 Records do not error when attempting to load the 911 Database
• Submitting the appropriate form to Intrado regarding 911 calls that misrouted or displayed incorrect information
• Act as liaison to Wireless and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol Providers) for assistance with all addressing and / or routing problems encountered by VoIP and Wireless.