The items below can be found on display at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office headquarters. We are very proud of our history, and the long line of men and women who have come before us, dedicating their lives to our community. These items help us keep their stories alive.
If you have any items that you think belong in our collection, please contact the Public Relations Manager Jamie Hopps at: jhopps@co.delaware.oh.us.
Jail Keys
The keys are for the current jail (they are decommissioned). This Willo Products Co. key from Decatur, Alabama, is one of the original keys from 1989. The RR Brink key is from the current jail dorm additions in 2007.
.41 Magnum Service Weapon & Holster/Uniform
Sheriff William B. “Moose” Lavery was Sheriff of Delaware County from 1976-1993. Shown here is his .41 Magnum service weapon and holster. Lavery is remembered for his investigative skills and being a founding member of a new detective unit in his first year as Sheriff. He was also the last Sheriff to operate from the historic County Jai. Lavery’s uniform is also showcased on the wall.
Badges/Patches
Here is a peek at the badges/patches throughout Delaware County Sheriff’s Office history. Each design showcases the period they represent, as badges and emblems have a long history dating to medieval times with knights would wear their coats of arms as a symbol of authority. However much they change over the years, the promise and mission will always remain the same: to protect and serve.
Line of Duty Death – Deputy Rea Christian Horlocker
July 2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the End of Watch for Deputy Horlocker. He was killed in the line of duty while pursuing a suspect in a vehicle. Shots were exchanged between them, and Horlocker’s motorcycle was struck. He was thrown 30 feet into the air, striking a telephone ole, and three fences. He suffered a fractured arm and leg and severe bruising to his head. He succumbed to his injuries the next day. In his obituary in the Sunbury News, it was stated: ‘To know him was to admire his noble character and to describe his sterling qualities, words are inadequate.”
Brick
This brick is part of a chimney form the Historic Jail and Sheriff’s Residence on Central Avenue. Constructed in 1878, the jail remained in use until 1988. There have been many stories stemming from the Historic Jail through the years; like the many jailbreaks, the nudist campers who were detained there, and even a story of how the matron almost died when the porch collapsed. One of the odder stories made the Sunbury News, when Sheriff Veley E. Main, elected in 1928, was accused of feeding inmates too lavishly (mango, goose liver, and coconuts), spending more on his food budget than the Child’s Home and Senior Home, combined.
.38 Special Revolver
This 1924 Colt Army .38 Special was a popular revolver among police officers because it allowed for the use of more powerful ammunition. This was useful during the Prohibition Era when rum runners would come from Detroit and Cleveland, passing through Delaware on their way to the nightlife in Columbus.
Flashlight
This flashlight belonged to the late James G. “Bro” Miller who served as a Deputy and Sergeant for the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office from 1986-2016. Miller was also a proud instructor for the Delaware County Joint Vocational School, Law Enforcement Program, as well as serving on the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission. Miller summed up his life the best, saying he was happiest: “helping people by police work and minding my own business with no regrets.”
Hostage Negotiator Phone
The phone displayed in the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office lobby was in use at least from the 1990s with the original paperwork documented indicating a policy of use in 1993. The phone was upgraded in 2003 to a Rescue Phone, which was a more modern design.
The phone was used by negotiators with the Delaware County multi-agency jurisdictional Crisis Negotiations Team in 2001, which included the following members: Det. Sgt. Russ Martin (Delaware PD), Sgt. Bruce Pijanowski (Delaware PD), Sgt. Kevin Savage (Delaware County Sheriff’s Office), Det. Sally Brink (Delaware County Sheriff’s Office), George Abbott (Westerville PD), Charles Doeble (Westerville PD), and Deputy Chris Stayer (Delaware County Sheriff’s Office).
The phone displayed is actually only half of the overall device. The half displayed was thrown into the building by the Delaware Tactical Unit to establish contact with the subject who was the cause of the standoff. The second half of the phone included in a metal suitcase that acted as the “guts” of the device and was used by the negotiator’s where they were stationed outside the building in order to coordinate communication with the subject.
