Douglas County Sheriff's Office

During the 1800s migration westward, many of the people making the long trip from the eastern part of the country decided to stop in the young territory of Nebraska on the western banks of the Missouri River. Douglas County began to grow and the people of the area wanted someone to protect them from outsiders and themselves. This need brought about the Sheriff of Douglas County and his Deputies.

The very first Sheriff, P.G. Peterson, was appointed and from that point forward by statute all Sheriffs are elected into office, with the exception of retirement appointments. The first Sheriff to be elected was Cameron Reeves on October 8, 1856 who took office in January 1857. There have been 30 Sheriffs for Douglas County; the first five prior to Nebraska's statehood. The current Sheriff, Thomas J. Wheeler, was appointed after the retirement of Sheriff Timothy Dunning. Sheriff Wheeler took office on January 1st, 2021.

Today, with a population of 571,327, Douglas County has the largest population of all 93 counties in Nebraska, and includes the state's largest city. Douglas County covers 331 square miles bordered by the Missouri River on the east, Platte River on the west, Dutch Hall Road on the north and Harrison Street on the south.