Orange County Indiana Sheriff's Department

05/14/2026

This week, we celebrate National Police Week. To every officer who puts on the uniform day after day, your commitment to this community does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do to keep Orange County safe.

05/13/2026

A little back story on our newest Deputy Blitz. Blitz and his handler have been training hard and will be on the road serving Orange County soon.

Next up of our current crop- meet Blitz! Blitz started his journey with us at the The Animal Protection League Inc., Indiana, one of the most overwhelmed shelters in the state. There are dogs sitting in shelters right now that will never make it out. Not because they’re bad dogs. Not because anyone failed to love them. But because there simply isn’t enough room, enough funding, enough people, and enough time. Blitz almost became one of those dogs.

It's the kind of place where the staff and volunteers carry heartbreak every single day. And yet those volunteers still show up. They still fight for every single animal there. They still sit in kennels giving scared dogs affection. They still learn names, personalities, favorite toys, favorite snacks… even knowing some of them may not make it out. They keep cleaning kennels. Keep giving treats. Keep sitting on concrete floors with scared dogs who have nobody else. Keep fighting impossible battles for animals the world already forgot. And Blitz was almost one of those dogs.

People love to blame shelters. They shouldn’t. Most of these places are drowning. The people inside them are trying to hold back an ocean with their bare hands. And somehow, Blitz made it out because their volunteers saw a spark in him, and we are so grateful. Multiple volunteers LITERALLY cried on our shoulders when we picked Blitz

A stunning long-coated shepherd/malinois mix with movie-star looks and enough happiness to light up a room. He greets every person like they’re his best friend. Every training day is the greatest day of his life. Tracking, detection, obedience, riding in the car — he doesn’t care what the job is as long as he gets to be there with his people.

The craziest part is knowing how close this dog came to disappearing forever. How close the world came to never seeing that ridiculous grin, that flowing coat, that endless joy. Now every day he is thrilled to go to work with his human. Tracking, drug detecting or just being told constantly how handsome he is- this dog just radiates happiness

Every time Blitz runs onto the training field with that huge grin and endless excitement, it is proof that those volunteers mattered, that their effort mattered and that their love mattered. Keep fighting the good fight, you're making a difference

05/12/2026

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is accepting applications for the position of Merit Deputy. All applicants must be 21 years of age by time of graduation from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, have a High School Diploma or GED equivalent, no felony convictions or convictions of domestic violence, must be able to pass a comprehensive background investigation, and have a valid Indiana driver’s license. Must meet ILEA physical fitness EXIT standards, and pass written testing. Deadline to apply is May 29th.

• Salary 52,132
• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 15 paid holidays
• Take home vehicle with off duty use inside orange County
• Paid workout time during shift
• 10 hr schedule
• 5,000 Dollar sign on bonus for ILEA certified officers
• Credit for years of service with vacation time
• Indiana Sheriff Pension
• Tattoos, beards, and outer carriers authorized
• Off duty employment authorized

Physical and written testing will be conducted on May 30th. (certified officers are exempt from testing).
Applications may be obtained in person at the Sheriff’s Department located at 205 E Main Street, Paoli IN 47454. Questions may be submitted to [email protected]

05/12/2026

Orange County Sheriff’s Department increase patrols to target seatbelt enforcement.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is partnering with the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) to urge Hoosiers to buckle up as part of the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, a high-visibility enforcement effort focused on increasing seatbelt use.

Beginning May 11 through May 31, 2026, officers will work overtime to ensure drivers and passengers are using their seatbelts and children are properly secured. The overtime patrols are funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through ICJI’s Comprehensive Highway Injury Reduction Program (CHIRP).

“Buckling up is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones on the road,” said Douglas Huntsinger, executive director of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. “Seatbelts save lives every day, and every trip should begin with making sure everyone is secured before hitting the road.”

Since 2021, Indiana has seen a steady decline in fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants not wearing seatbelts. Seatbelt usage among Hoosiers has also increased, reaching 94.1% in 2025 according to the Annual Seat Belt Usage Survey conducted by Purdue University Center for Road Safety in partnership with ICJI. This rate is above the national average of 91.2% usage in 2024.

“In law enforcement, we see firsthand how quickly lives can change on the roadway,” said Sheriff Davy Henderson. “Wearing your seatbelt is about protecting your future, your family, and this community. We’re asking everyone in Orange County to slow down, stay alert, and buckle up every trip, every time.”

Indiana law requires drivers and all passengers to buckle up. Children under age eight must be properly restrained in a federally approved child car seat or booster seat. Drivers can be cited for lack of seat belt use, but also for each unbuckled passenger under the age of 16.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to make sure children are in the right car seat and that it is used correctly and properly installed. Resources can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/TheRightSeat. To schedule an appointment with a certified car seat safety technician at one of Indiana’s 100 fitting stations, visit on.in.gov/SafeKids.

CHIRP is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. For more information about ICJI’s traffic safety programs, visit www.in.gov/cji.

05/11/2026

Please join us in congratulating Chief Deputy Marcus Ashby on his promotion to Chief Deputy of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Chief Deputy Ashby has dedicated years of service to the citizens of Orange County with professionalism, integrity, and commitment to this community. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, a tireless work ethic, and a genuine dedication to serving others.

Law enforcement is more than a job. It requires sacrifice, long hours, and a commitment to answering the call whenever the community needs help. Chief Deputy Ashby has continually shown that commitment through his service to Orange County, the people who call it home, and other deputies.

As he steps into this new leadership role, we are confident that his experience, character, and dedication will continue to help move this department forward while supporting both our deputies and our community.

Congratulations, Chief Deputy Ashby, and thank you for your continued service to Orange County.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Today we salute the moms who can locate a missing shoe, settle a sibling disturbance, detect suspicious silence, and still have snacks ready before anyone calls for backup.

You are the original crisis negotiators, peacekeepers, and command staff of the household.

Thank you for everything you do. Happy Mother’s Day!

05/08/2026

After decades of combined service to the citizens of Orange County, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department would like to recognize and thank two men who have dedicated so much of their lives to this community.

Chief Deputy Ben Bosley has chosen to begin a new chapter after nearly a decade of service with this office. Throughout his career here, Ben has served with professionalism, integrity, and commitment, playing an important role in the daily operations and leadership of the department. His dedication to both this office and the people of Orange County has not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for the sacrifices made by both Ben and his family throughout the years. We wish Ben, Abbie, and their family nothing but success and happiness moving forward.

At the same time, we also want to honor Clayton Main on his upcoming retirement after more than 40 years of dedicated service. Clayton has been a vital part of this department and a familiar face to generations throughout Orange County. His experience, dependability, and commitment to serving others have left a lasting impact on this office and the community he served for decades.

Law enforcement is not simply a job. It is a lifetime of long hours, sacrifice, missed holidays, and dedication to something bigger than yourself.

Both Ben and Clayton have answered that call in their own way and have helped make this department stronger because of it.

On behalf of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, thank you both for your service, leadership, and dedication to Orange County. Once a deputy, always family.

05/08/2026

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department would like to extend a sincere thank you to Springs Valley Bank & Trust for their recent donation of blankets.

These blankets will be kept in our patrol vehicles and used when deputies respond to calls involving children, accident victims, stranded motorists, elderly residents, or anyone else who may need comfort during a difficult moment.

Sometimes something as simple as a blanket can make a big difference to someone who is cold, scared, hurt, or going through one of the worst days of their life.

We are grateful for community partners like Springs Valley Bank & Trust who continue to support our department and the people of Orange County.

04/28/2026

*UPDATE* As of 4pm today State Road 56 W from Ames Chapel Church to Prospect is back open and passable.

Update from INDOT: State Road 56 W from Ames Chapel Church to the Prospect “Y” is closed due to high water. Also numerous county roads and town streets throughout the county are closed as well due to high waters.

04/19/2026

***UDATE***
Sandhill Road has been cleared and is open to traffic.

CR 825 (Sandhill Road) will be closed near the intersection of US Hwy 150 due to a downed tree with power lines. Traffic will be detoured onto Upper Sandhill Road.

04/13/2026

Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!

April 12–18, 2026

Each year, during the second week of April, we pause to recognize and thank the public safety telecommunicators who serve our communities 24/7/365. Here in Orange County, our 911 dispatchers are the calm voice in chaos, the steady presence in uncertainty, and the vital link to lifesaving help.

In critical moments, public safety telecommunicators are the FIRST first responders—the bridge between “first aware” and “first there”.

Every single day, they make life-and-death decisions…
They calm frantic callers…
They give life saving instructions…
They help protect our police officers, firefighters, and paramedics…
They remain calm when the unimaginable is asked of them—and they answer the call without hesitation.

Their work is often unseen, but its impact is immeasurable. They are always there, always ready.

To our Orange County 911 dispatchers—thank you for your dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to keeping our community safe. We are grateful for you today and every day.

Thank you, 9-1-1!

🖤💛🖤