Douglas County History
Douglas County was founded August 25, 1855 and consists of 461 square miles situated between Topeka and Kansas City along the I-70 corridor. Within its boundaries are the incorporated towns of Lawrence, Baldwin City, Eudora, Lecompton and three universities: The University of Kansas, Baker University & Haskell Indian Nations University. The population of Douglas County (2007) is 113,488.
Sheriff's Office History
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office has approximately 138 full time employees of which 90 are commissioned law enforcement officers. The first Sheriff of Douglas County was Samuel J. Jones was appointed August 27th, 1855, by acting Kansas Governor Daniel Woodson. He was killed in the line of duty February 18, 1857. The first female Sheriff of Douglas County, Gladys Johns, held office from 1949-1950.
The previous Douglas County Sheriff's Office and current Douglas County Courthouse opened in 1911. The current Douglas County Law Enforcement Center was opened in 1976. The first Douglas County Jail was a 20x20 log structure built in 1857. A more permanent structure was constructed in 1860. The current jail opened September 11, 1999.
Clyde Lovellette was the first basketball player in history to play on an NCAA, Olympic & NBA Championship squad. He helped lead the 1952 Jayhawk basketball team to the NCAA Championship. During the off season in 1961 and 1962, Lovellette served as a Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy. After leaving Lawrence in 1966 he returened to his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana where he successfully ran for Sheriff.
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