The Office Of The Sheriff, the most powerful law enforcement agency in the county. The Sheriff is responsible for three duties: the operation of the jail, service of court papers and to provide around the clock protection to detect and deter crime, especially in the rural, unincorporated areas. The department also provides back up assistance to other area agencies. The position of Sheriff or (“Reeve of the Shire") began in England and was first established in the year 992 AD, therefore it is the oldest law enforcement agency in the world.

The first jail in Isabella County (1870) was built with slab wood and was situated at the northwest corner of what are now Court and Mosher Streets. The courthouse was constructed in 1872. The courthouse was located directly on the west side (Main Street) of the block adjacent to the early jail. In the late 1880's a Victorian style Jail and Sheriff's residence were completed on the site where the first jail sat.

In early 1961, plans were in motion to discontinue use of the current jail and build a new and up to date Sheriff's Department and Jail located where it sits now, a little further to the north on Court Street. This jail had the capacity of holding 42 inmates.

Since then, The Department and Jail have taken on a new and larger look to accommodate more staff members, more inmates, and more services to protect and assist the residents in the rural areas. Three expansion projects have taken place since: one in 1989, to accommodate 100 inmates, another in 1992 flexing its walls to hold 140 and again in 1999 to boost the housing capacity to 198. (This last expansion would allow inmates from Detroit area municipal jurisdictions to house their offenders here). Other major changes took place during this time also, more office and equipment space, a modern and larger kitchen, locker rooms for the men and women personnel, food storage and training rooms.

The Office Of The Sheriff has a very distinct and unique place in the history of law enforcement in America, handed down from the early days in England more than 1,000 years ago.

SHERIFF'S OF ISABELLA COUNTY