The Sheriff's Chief Deputy is Chief Mickey Atkinson. The Chief Deputy works directly under the Sheriff and oversees the daily overall operations of the Sheriff's Office, which comprises the Administration Division, Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, and Detention Center Division. Chief Atkinson has over 30 years of service in Law Enforcement.

The Chief Deputy is responsible for planning, directing, implementing, and achieving department strategic goals and objectives related to the department's mission of providing law enforcement, detention and crime prevention services, to the public so they can be safe and secure in our community.

Chief Deputy Mickey Atkinson

Additional responsibilities include:

• overseeing all related programs and services;
• planning and directing the implementation of County-wide policies and programs;
• planning and allocating resources to meet statutory mandates to best achieve optimal functionality and efficiency;
• overseeing all complex and highly sensitive investigations;
• evaluating the need and effectiveness of all department programs and services;
• acting on behalf of the Sheriff and in the Sheriff's absence;
• representing the Sheriff in high-level County meetings, meetings with the public, legal proceedings, meetings with employees, legislators ,and the media;
• analyzing and directing studies and projects and presenting recommendations and findings; resolving high-level or sensitive complaints that have progressed beyond the normal resolution process;
• analyzing the impact of existing and proposed legislation and providing recommendations; leading and directing projects related to organizational changes, system integration, and process changes;
• working with the Quorum Court, County Judge, and other County management;
• managing subordinate managerial and/or supervisory staff;
• assisting the Sheriff in directing the preparation and approval of the department's budget and overseeing all department personnel actions and issues;
• working closely with other law enforcement agencies and related County departments.
• The Chief Deputy reports to the elected Sheriff.