Washington County Texas Sheriff's Office
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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. 7703

(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7704
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7706
(979) 277-6251 Ext. 7705
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.


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.​