History of The Denton County Sheriff's Office

BadgeDENTON COUNTY, TEXAS
ESTABLISHED 1846

43 sheriffs have served in Denton County in the last 180 years.

1846: William Garvin became the first Sheriff of Denton County.

Garvin’s tenure as sheriff was brief and ended that same year when he failed to appear at a district court session. The presiding judge appointed Peter Harmonson as sheriff.

1846-1848: Peter Harmonson

1848-1852: William H. Roark

1852-1853: Jasper Baker

1853-1854: Robert Gibson

1854-1856: Felix McKittrick

1856-1858: Charles Alexander Williams

1858-1860: Joseph Carter

1860-1862: Christopher Columbus Daugherty

1862-1866: Stephen Hyatt

1866-1867: Charles Alexander Williams

  • (Second Term)

1867-1869: Matthew Gray

1869: Baylis Earle Greenlee

1869-1878: William F. Egan

1878-1882: Robert Henry Hopkins

1882-1886: Dallas Clark

1886-1890: William Sparks

1890-1894: Joseph G. Mars

1894-1900: Sam Hawkins

1900-1904: Warren Elisha Durbin

1904-1908: William S. Fry

1908-1914: William Columbus Orr

1914-1918: Pat Galligher

1918-1922: James Hubbard Goode

1922-1924: W.M. Swinney

1924-1928: William S. Fry

  • (Second Term)

1928-1930: Ted Lewis

1930-1934: Gene Columbus Cockrell

1934-1936: Marshall Shadrick Webster

1936-1940: Frederick Dallas Curtsinger

1940-1948: Roy Moore

1948-1953: W. Ones Hodges

1953: Bud Gentle

1954-1976: Wylie Barnes

  • (Longest tenured Sheriff in Denton County history)

1977-1984: Kenneth George

1985-1988: Randy Kaisner

1988: Ronald Joe Douglas

1988-1992: Kirby Robinson

1993-2004: Weldon Lucas

2005-2012: Benny Parkey

2013-2016: Will Travis

2017-Present: Tracy Murphree

  • Murphree’s Career began in 1988 with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a highway patrolman. In 1998, he was selected to be a Texas Ranger covering Denton and Cooke Counties. Before being elected, Sheriff Murphree worked at the Denton County Sheriff’s Office as the Captain over the Criminal Investigations Division.

Photos of Denton County Sheriffs

Tracy Murphree

Current Sheriff of Denton County. Elected in 2016.

Ones Hodges

After being blinded due to an injury sustained during a gunfight in Krum, TX, Sheriff Hodges continued to serve as sheriff of Denton County for several years. 

From left, back: Sam Hawkins & Elisha Durbin; Front: Charles A. Williams, Christopher Daugherty, William Egan & Robert Hopkins.

Wylie Barnes

Sheriff Wylie Barnes is the longest tenured sheriff in Denton County History. He served as sheriff for 22 years.

Peter Harmonson

Sheriff Harmonson can be considered the first Sheriff of Denton County. Sheriff William Garvin was technically the first sheriff of Denton County but he only served for a short time and Sheriff Harmonson was appointed as sheriff after Garvin failed to appear at a District Court Session in 1846.

William S. Fry

Sheriff Fry is considered to be one of the greatest sheriffs in the history of Denton County due to him ending a period of lawlessness largely by bringing down “The Story Gang” who had been causing many problems in Denton County during that time. Modern Day Fry Street is named after Sheriff Fry. 

HISTORY OF THE DENTON COUNTY JAIL

DCSO Front Building

The Denton County Jail currently has a capacity of 1,591 beds and is ranked #7 in the Top 10 largest jails in Texas.

1861: The first Denton County Jail opened. It was a two-story log building Northwest of the modern square.

1868: Inmates set fire to the jail, burning it to the ground. Inmates were temporarily housed at Collin County Jail.

1870: A two-story red sandstone and wood jail was built on the east side of the square.

1894: A two-story brick jail was built at 402 North Elm Street. (The jail was demolished in 1965)

1964: A new jail was built on McKinney Street and housed 75 inmates. Throughout the years several expansions have been made.

  • 1985: The Denton County Administration and main jail building was added
  • 1994: Pods expansion
  • 2004: Pre-Trial expansion
  • 2015: Tower expansion
  • 2018: Book-In expansion
  • 2022: Kitchen & Laundry expansion

Denton County Sheriff's Office
127 N. Woodrow Lane, Suite 300
Denton, TX 76205