Office of the Sheriff
Command Staff
|
Otto H. Hanak
Jay Petrash Eddie Ocanas Eric Hensley David Blakey Mark Whidden |
Sheriff
Chief Deputy Captain - Operations Chief Deputy - Jail Lieutenant - Patrol Lieutenant - Investigations |
(979) 277-6251
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7702 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7714 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7704 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7720 (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7711 |
ohanak@wacounty.com
jpetrash@wacounty.com eocanas@wacounty.com ehensley@wacounty.com dblakey@wacounty.com mwhidden@wacounty.com |
Administrative Services
|
Becky Ballard
Jackie Watson Helen Kendricks Lisa Garcia |
Administrative Assistant
Deputy/Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant Administrative Assistant |
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7700 bballard @wacounty.com
(979) 353-7742 jwatson@wacounty.com (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7779 hkendricks@wacounty.com (979) 277-6251 Ext. 7780 lgarcia@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 EDDIE OCANAS - Eddie Ocanas attended Blinn College and he graduated from the Gus George Police Academy in June 1998. He began his law enforcement career with the Rosenberg Police Department where he held positions of Field Training Officer and Patrol Sergeant and was member of their S.W.A.T. team. Captain Ocanas worked approximately ten years with the Brenham Police Department in various capacities. During his tenure with the department, he served as Corporal, Firearms Instructor and Range Master, S,W,A,T, team leader, and Criminal Investigator with eight years in narcotics. Since joining the Washington County Sheriff's Office, he has been a Sergeant Criminal Investigator and the Lieutenant for the Patrol Division. He is currently the S.W.A.T. Commander, as well as a Firearms and Taser Instructor. Captain Ocanas has a Master Peace Officer Certification with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, has attended numerous leadership schools including West Point Trilogy Academy and he has received the Officer of the Year award four times.
CHIEF DEPUTY (JAIL) ERIC HENSLEY - 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. Chief 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 Jailer Certificate and a Master Peace Officer Certificate. In 2019, Chief Hensley joined the Washington County Sheriff’s Office as the Jail Administrator. Chief Hensley also served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps before being honorably discharged in 2001.