Walton County Sheriff's Office

CELEBRATING WCSO DETENTION DEPUTY OF THE 4TH QUARTER AND DETENTION DEPUTY OF THE YEAR Join us in celebrating Walton County Jail's Detention Deputy of the 4th Quarter Kayla O'Neal and Detention Deputy of the Year Chelsea Fetterhoff. Detention Deputy O’Neal’s role in the Employee Appreciation Program has been nothing short of transformative. She introduced innovative ideas and implemented them with creativity, precision, and attention to detail. Her approach fostered a sense of recognition and engagement among her co-workers. Additionally, Detention Deputy O’Neal is a collaborative team member and mentor. She proactively supports colleagues, shares knowledge, and fosters a culture of learning and growth. On any given day, you will find Chelsea Fetterhoff actively working in the Criminal Investigations Bureau as a Crime Scene Technician. What you might not know, however, is that she spends many of her days off working at the jail as a Detention Deputy. Ms. Fetterhoff was nominated for this award by multiple Detention Deputies, which is just one of many indicators of the impact she has on the Agency. Congratulations ladies! Thank you for leading the way for our agency and being a great example of our Commitment to Excellence.

WALTON COUNTY JAIL EARNS EXCELSIOR DESIGNATION WALTON COUNTY, FLA - The Walton County Jail has earned the “Excelsior” recognition and has been reaccredited by the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC) for the care, custody, and control of inmates at the facility. The Excelsior title is an award given to Florida correctional agencies that have demonstrated a commitment to the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission's (FCAC) accreditation process. How does the Excelsior designation work? ✔️Agencies must be awarded five consecutive reaccreditation cycles. ✔️The reaccreditation interval must not be assessed by the Commission for the agency to earn the Excelsior designation. ✔️The FCAC conducts formal assessments every three years. These standards are not only recognized as "best practices" in the corrections community, they EXCEED the standards established through the Florida Model Jail Standards. The Walton County Jail is located in DeFuniak Springs. The facility is operated by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and has been accredited since 2010. With a capacity of 596 beds and an average daily population of 280 inmates, the jail serves as the primary detention center for Walton County, housing both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates. Staffed by over 140 sworn and non-sworn personnel, the facility accommodates minimum, medium, and maximum-security classifications. As a vital part of the county’s criminal justice system, the Walton County Jail ensures public safety while offering rehabilitation and vocational programs. These include the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program, Heavy Equipment Operator courses, and a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training program. By earning its sixth accreditation, the jail has earned the "Excelsior" designation. ▪️Initial Accredited February 2, 2010 ▪️Reaccredited on February 19, 2013 ▪️Reaccredited on February 23, 2016 ▪️Reaccredited on February 19, 2019 ▪️Reaccredited on February 23, 2022 🌟Reaccredited on February 19, 2025 - Excelsior Reaccreditation

Join us in congratulating these Cadets on their graduation from the Northwest Florida State College Law Enforcement Academy. Well done, gents! Welcome to the Walton County Sheriff's Office family!

WCSO DEPUTY JOSHUA MAYHUE RECEIVES DEPUTY OF THE YEAR AND DEPUTY OF THE QUARTER HONORS Deputy Joshua Mayhue is currently acting in a School Resource Deputy role for the Walton County Sheriff's Office where he greets children with a warm smile and a helping hand, creating an atmosphere of trust and safety within our school district with not only students but staff. Most recently, Deputy Mayhue has been assigned to Freeport Elementary School, where his work ethic and dedication have earned him numerous compliments from staff and parents alike. Deputy Mayhue is known as a reliable team member. When a school needs coverage, he consistently steps up without hesitation or complaint. In addition to his contributions within the SRD unit, Deputy Mayhue has also been recognized for his outstanding work with the Patrol Bureau for his efforts in verifying sex offenders throughout the county. Just yesterday we received this compliment regarding Deputy Mayhue. "Just wanted to shout out the precious Deputy Mayhue. Watched a young woman’s card decline several times at the post office in Freeport and he tapped his card to pay for her postage. Thank you to our one-of-a-kind WCSO deputies and their commitment to our community in more ways than the job requires!" Join us in congratulating Deputy Mayhue on receiving Deputy of the 4th Quarter and Deputy of the Year.

Walton County Sheriff's Office is pleased to announce we are taking applications for Deputy Sheriff Sponsorships! These positions have been posted to PoliceApp.com for the upcoming 2025 Summer and Fall Academies at Northwest Florida State College here: https://lnkd.in/dmkg2rtb Below is our tentative hiring timeline:    2025 Summer Academy: Accepting Applications - January 3rd to January 31st Application Process - January 6th to February 17th Job Offers Issued - By February 21st WCSO Start Date - March 10th In-House Academy - March 24th through April 25th  NWFSC Academy- Early May 2025 Fall Academy:  Accepting Applications - January 3rd to February 28th Application Process - January 6th to May 2nd Job Offers Issued - By May 30th WCSO Start Date - June 16th In-House Academy - June 30th through August 1st  NWFSC Academy- Early August Please help us spread the word about this opportunity! If you or anyone you know who would be a great fit for this role, please encourage them to apply! 

"If hope were a crop, it would grow in Northern Walton County." Walton County Sheriff's Office is thrilled to be the FEATURED COVER STORY in Volume 24, Issue 4 of Florida Sheriffs & Deputy Sheriffs All Points Bulletin! Check it out! Florida Sheriffs, Florida Sheriffs, Florida Deputy Sheriff’s Association

WCSO SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR, DEPUTY EARNS FSU COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD WALTON COUNTY, FLA— A member of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is awarded for her tenacity in the field of social work by Florida State University College of Social Work. Hailey Lovejoy, who spent four years with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy, transitioned to serving as a Substance Abuse Counselor at the Walton County Jail earlier this year. The College of Social Work at Florida State University hosted its 2024 Scholarship and Awards dinner during the 2024 FSU Homecoming week where Lovejoy was presented the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. The event honored six distinguished social work graduates and 112 student scholars. The Distinguished Young Alumni Award is awarded to an alumnus who graduated less than 10 years ago and demonstrates outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions to social work. Lovejoy, a three-time FSU graduate, earned a master’s in public safety and security in 2024, a Master of Social Work in 2020, and a bachelor’s in criminology and criminal justice in 2016 with a specialized focus on victimology and sex offenders/offenses. She has dedicated her career to focusing on the intersection of criminal justice and mental health. After serving as a sworn deputy, Lovejoy is currently working toward social work licensure as the substance abuse/behavioral health counselor at the Walton County Jail. Here, her primary focus is working with inmates on community re-entry transitions through the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Community Mental Health Initiative to bridge the gap in a county with limited support services. “We are beyond proud of Hailey and are fortunate to have her as a part of our team at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “Her desire to widen the scope of her knowledge is a sign of her commitment to our mission to help in the recovery of incarcerated individuals.” To read more about the College of Social Work at Florida State University Scholarship and Awards recipients, click here: https://lnkd.in/exTKdskP

DEPUTY OF THE QUARTER - OSCAR D'LASSALAS A newly promoted Sergeant, Oscar D'Lassalas is, first, a proud father of six and a dedicated husband. Sergeant D'Lassalas has been a valuable Walton County Sheriff's Office member for nine years and previously served in the Air Force. As a bilingual asset to the agency, D'Lassalas serves as an interpreter contributing to countless investigations, and consistently assists during calls for service. He is an active member of the agency's SWAT team and participates as a Task Force Officer for the United States Marshals Service. Before his recent promotion, Sergeant D'Lassalas was a Field Training Officer and is recognized by others as well-organized and always striving to be the best team member possible. He is currently enrolled in Emergency Medical Technician School, showing a desire to constantly improve while becoming a greater part of the organization's mission. A leader among his peers, D'Lassalas makes it a point to earn the respect of everyone he encounters. Through his consistent work ethic and outstanding attitude, he is committed to serving the residents and visitors of Walton County. Join us in congratulating him for earning Deputy of the 3rd Quarter.

DETENTION DEPUTY OF THE QUARTER - CONNOR RICKS Dependable. Reliable. Respectful. Detention Deputy Connor Ricks has been employed with the Walton County Sheriff's Office since 2022. Since that time, he has proven his dedication and has shown a willingness to grow and learn in every aspect of his job. When staffing was short in food services at the Jail, Deputy Ricks stepped up to fill the void. He also regularly assists the medical staff when they need a hand. Deputy Ricks consistently shows initiative, problem problem-solving skills, and demonstrates respectful, effective communication with incarcerated inmates. His ability to remain calm and composed during challenging situations and his talent for de-escalation during potentially volatile situations are a testament to his professionalism. Join us in congratulating Deputy Connor Ricks on being awarded Detention Deputy of the Third Quarter.

Join us in congratulating the four newest members of the Walton County Sheriff's Office family! Recent graduates of the Northwest Florida State College Law Enforcement Academy will now begin an in-house academy before moving on to our 16-week field training program. Join us in welcoming the following trainees! Dustin Tulley Cameron Rojik Carlos Martinez Salvador Oliver Welcome to the family gentleman!