Office of the Sheriff
Command Staff
|
Otto H. Hanak
Jay Petrash Claude Free Eric Hensley Eddie Ocanas Mark Whidden |
Sheriff
Chief Deputy Captain of Operations Captain of Jail Lieutenant of Patrol Lieutenant of Investigations |
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7701
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7702 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7703 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7704 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7714 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7711 |
ohanak@wacounty.com
jpetrash@wacounty.com cfree@wacounty.com ehensley@wacounty.com eocanas@wacounty.com mwhidden@wacounty.com |
Administrative Services
|
Becky Ballard
Jackie Watson Mayra Guzman |
Administrative Assistant
Deputy/Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant |
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7700 bballard @wacounty.com
(979) 353-7742 jwatson@wacounty.com (979)277-6251 Ext. 7779 mguzman@wacounty.com |
Chief Deputy, Jay Petrash – Chief Petrash is a graduate of Sul Ross State University and has a Master’s Degree from Prairie View A&M University. He began his career in 1976 as a Deputy Sheriff with the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office in Cotulla, Texas. In 1977, he was hired by the Sul Ross State University Police Department where he served until 1981 when he joined the Brenham Police Department. During his career with Brenham, Chief Petrash served in all ranks with the department including three terms as Interim Police Chief, Commander of the Independence Narcotics Task Force, and SWAT Commander. He retired in 2013 when he was appointed as Chief Deputy by newly elected Sheriff Otto H. Hanak.
Chief Petrash is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Police Academy and he served as a Special United States Marshal with the 56th Presidential Inaugural Security Detail in Washington D.C. Chief Petrash is also a Certified Basic Structural Firefighter by the Texas Fire Commission and has a Master Peace Officer Certification with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Chief Petrash is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Police Academy and he served as a Special United States Marshal with the 56th Presidential Inaugural Security Detail in Washington D.C. Chief Petrash is also a Certified Basic Structural Firefighter by the Texas Fire Commission and has a Master Peace Officer Certification with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Captain of Operations, Claude W. Free – A graduate of Oklahoma City Southwestern Jr. College, Captain Free began his career in 1974 with the Seminole Oklahoma Police Department where he promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. In 1977, he was hired by the Amarillo Police Department, where he promoted to Sergeant, and was assigned as an investigator with the Major Crimes Division. In 1996, Captain Free was hired as the Chief of Police for the Texas State Technical College Police Department in Harlingen, Texas. He served there until 2008, at which time he accepted the position of Chief of Police of Blinn College at Brenham. He retired from Blinn in 2012 and accepted the position of Operations Captain at the Washington County Sheriff's Office. Captain Free is also a graduate of Sam Houston State University’s Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas 38th Session of the Leadership Command College and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators Leadership Management Course. He also holds a Master Peace Officer Certification along with a Police Instructors License through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Jail Administrator, Eric Hensley – Captain Eric Hensley began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Officer in the jail. He graduated from the University of Houston Police Academy in 2004 and rose through the ranks promoting to Sergeant in 2008. Captain Hensley is a graduate of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy as well as the Senior Leadership and Mid-Management Courses through the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, Sam Houston State University. Captain Hensley is a Board Member for the Texas Jail Association and currently holds a Master Jailers Certificate and an Advanced Peace Officer Certificate. In 2019, Captain Hensley joined the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as the Jail Administrator. Captain Hensley also served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps before being honorably discharged in 2001.