DGSO History
Since 1855
The Douglas County Kansas Sheriff’s Office had a shaky start in 1855. Our first Sheriff, Samuel J. Jones, was a political appointee by a disputed Kansas legislature. Jones never bothered to move to Douglas County from Missouri where he was Postmaster in Westport. On May 21, 1856 Jones lead a band of border ruffians in the “Sack of Lawrence”. While violent and devastating for Lawrence, it was just an early sign of the unrest that would eventually culminate with the Civil War.
As all institutions we have been a reflection of the current era. Our values of Integrity, Trust, Public Safety, Excellence and Team Work remain guiding principals. We serve the residents of Douglas County; our neighbors. We add to a legacy of public service born out of the ashes Jones left behind.
#30: Sheriff Jay T. Armbrister
2022 – Present
The original 1800’s Douglas County Jail was designed by renowned architect John G. Haskell and built around 1859 near Pinkney and Vermont streets in Lawrence.
Later, a combined sheriff’s residence and jail was erected around 1877 (illustration shown). This historic structure on the county courthouse square housed law enforcement and a jail, with the sheriff’s family living on-site, between October 1909 and November 1976. The building was demolished in December 1976.
The Law Enforcement Center building was built in 1974 and held Jail facilities until they were moved into the new Douglas County Jail at 3601 East 25th in 1999.
In 2026 the Sheriff’s office marks another milestone in our history when operations relocate to the new Public Safety Building (PSB) next the Jail. The PSB will house the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Communications (911) and Emergency Management personnel.