Chief Information Officer - Wink Downen
 |
| Wink Downen |
Chief Information Officer Wink Downen was appointed by the Sheriff in 2002 over 911/Dispatch, Criminal History Records and Identification, Report Center, Information Systems and AFIS, and Automated Fingerprint Identification divisions.
Wink Downen retired from the Memphis Police Department in October 2002 with 28 years experience. He spent 12 years as a patrol officer with one year in the old City Jail, five years as a Sergeant assigned to Investigative Services working in Violent Crimes (Homicide, Sex Crimes, Robbery), and the evening shift General Assignment Bureau (preliminary investigation of all crimes), seven years as a Lieutenant working in Patrol Division and the Executive Administration Bureau, four years as a Major assigned to the Executive Administration Bureau, and three of those years as the appointed Commander of Communications, Records and Technology.
The Sheriff and his Command Staff
The Shelby County Sheriff maintains a highly trained top Administrative staff consisting of:
- Chief Information Officer - William Downen
- Administrator IV - Janet Buhr
- Deputy Administrator of Training - Joseph Ruff
Law Enforcement Division Assistant Chiefs
- Assistant Chief of Courts and Civil Bureau - Larry Young
Jail Division Assistant Chiefs
- Assistant Chief of Jail Security - Robert Moore
- Assistant Chief of Jail Programs - Rod Bowers
The Sheriff's Message to the Public is available to read as well as biographies of the Sheriff, Mark H. Luttrell and Top Command Staff by browsing on the right Side Link Menu.
The public is invited to contact the Sheriff at any time for comments and suggestions.
Supporting Administrative Staff working in conjunction with the Sheriff's top staff also include:
- Executive Assistant - Lucy Moore
- Special Assistant to the Sheriff - Ron Taylor
- Assistant Shelby County Attorney assigned to the Sheriff’s Office - Debra L. Fessenden
- Director of the Bureau of Professional Standards and Integrity - Bill Cash
Chief Administrative Officer - Harvey Kennedy
 |
| Harvey Kennedy |
Chief Administrative Officer Harvey Kennedy is a 26 year veteran of the US Navy retiring as a Captain in 1993. His last navy assignment was as Commander of the Distribution Depot in Memphis. Mr. Kennedy spent his entire career as a Supply Corps Officer specializing in Finance and Distribution. He obtained a Master's Degree in Financial Management in 1978.
Mr. Kennedy commenced a county career in 1993 as Finance Manager at the Division of Corrections. He was appointed as Administrator of Finance at Division of Corrections in 1997. Next he was appointed as the Sheriff's Chief Administrative Officer when the Sheriff was elected and assumed office in September 2002. Mr. Kennedy is married with two grown daughters, one residing in Washington and the other in Memphis. His wife Sandra is Business Manager for a medical practice in Memphis.
Chief Larry R. Young
 |
| Chief Larry Young |
Chief Larry R. Young attended University of Memphis from 1971-1974. He worked at the Memphis Police Dept. from 1973-2002 and retired as Executive Major to accept his current position with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
Larry Young is currently assigned as Assistant Chief of the Courts Division.
Chief Terry Achels
 |
| Chief Terry Achels |
Chief Terry Achels is happily married, with 4 grown children. He graduated from Southside High School and attended University of Memphis. Terry Achels started employment with the department in 1978. He has happily served the citizens of Shelby County for 28 years. Terry Achels has worked in various capacities in the Sheriff’s Office including Commander of the Violent Crimes Task Force, Commander of the Detective Division, Executive Officer of Fugitive Division And Commander of The Uniform Patrol / Patrol Support Services.
Terry Achels is currently assigned as Assistant Chief over the Detective Division, Fugitive Division and Special Operations (Gang Unit, S.W.A.T., Narcotics, K-9, and Bomb Unit).
Chief David R. Wing
 |
| Chief David R. Wing |
Chief David R. Wing is from Jackson, TN, at a young age he and his family moved to Memphis, TN. He is a graduate of Memphis Technical High School. Upon graduation he joined the Army and served three years as a military policeman with one year in Viet Nam. Upon his return to Memphis, TN he joined the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. His career with the Sheriff's Office has been spent in many of law enforcement divisions; Patrol, Training, Fugitive, Detective, S.W.A.T., Narcotics, Special Operations, and including the Jail. David R. Wing graduated from the FBI Academy in December of 1983.
David R. Wing is currently assigned as Assistant Chief over the Patrol and Patrol Support Services Division.
His office is currently at 201 Poplar, 9th floor. During his career he was appointed by the Governor to the Tennessee P.O.S.T. Commission for sixteen years and was Chairman for one year.
David and his wife Patsy live in Bartlett, TN and have two grown children, David, Jr. and Amanda and four grandchildren.
Jail Director - Chief James Coleman
 |
| Chief James Coleman |
Jail Director, Chief James Coleman - Born and educated in Nashville, TN., James Coleman began his correctional career with Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in Nashville and has held various positions within the field. Most notably, Director of Training with the TN Corrections Institute, and the TN Board of Pardon and Parole, Corrections Specialist with the National Institute of Corrections, Director of Union County, New Jersey’s Division of Corrections and Correctional Management Consultant.
James Coleman attended TN State University in Nashville, TN for Criminal Justice in 1978.
On November 1, 2001 he started employment with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Memphis, TN. as Assistant Chief Jailer. James Coleman then became Chief Jailer August 2004.
James Coleman has professional memberships in the American Corrections Association, American Jail Association, Shelby County Corrections Consortium, and National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.
Chief Deputy - William Oldham
 |
| Chief Deputy William Oldham |
Chief Deputy William Oldham is a native of Memphis, TN. William Oldham was appointed SCSO Chief Deputy in October 2002. He graduated from Catholic High School for Boys, and attended Memphis State University for 2 years. In 1972, he attended the Memphis Police Academy. William Oldham rose up through the ranks at the Memphis Police Dept. from 1972 until retirement as its Director in January 2000. Chief Oldham has won many professional awards, the latest being President of the Memphis Metropolitan Assoc. of Chiefs of Police in 1996. He has also been involved in the community as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the City of Memphis Credit Union for the years 1989,1993, and 2000.
The Sheriff's Biography
 |
| Sheriff William Oldham |
Sheriff William “Bill” Oldham took office as Shelby County Sheriff on September 1st, 2010.
Sheriff Oldham is a native Memphian. He graduated from Catholic High School for Boys and attended Memphis State University. He is a graduate of the 33rd Session of the Memphis Police Academy where he began his career in law enforcement with the Memphis Police Department in 1972. He worked his way up the ranks, eventually retiring in 2000 as Interim-Director. He served in many roles with MPD, including Commander of the Memphis Police Academy, Deputy Director, District One Uniform Patrol Chief, Beale Street Substation Commander and North Precinct Uniform Patrol, Executive Captain.
In 2002, Sheriff Oldham was appointed as Chief Deputy for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office where he served until 2010. Under his leadership the law enforcement division achieved national accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement. He also instituted Data Smart Policing, stressing the importance of field input from all divisions in concert to address crime, leveraging technology to reduce the crime rate.
Sheriff Oldham serves on the City of Memphis Credit Union Board of Directors, where he has served as Chairman for four terms during his twenty-five year tenure.
He is a past President of the Memphis Metropolitan Association of Chiefs of Police and an active member. He is a former member of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police and a current member of the Tennessee Sheriffs Association. Sheriff Oldham is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Sheriffs’ Association. He is a Charter member of the F.B.I.’s Law Enforcement Budgeting Advisory Group. Sheriff Oldham is a graduate of the 21st Session of the F.B.I.’s National Executive Institute.
Sheriff Oldham is very involved within his church community. He and his wife are members of St. Louis Catholic Church. His primary focus has been as a youth sports coach, where his sense of teamwork and fair play serve as a fine example for the children he works with. Additionally, he has served on the Advisory Council for Education at Bishop Byrne Middle & High School.
Bill Oldham and his wife Jean, married since 1972, have three children and four grandchildren.
Contact the Sheriff
 |
| Sheriff William Oldham |
Sheriff Oldham welcomes your calls. Contact Sheriff Oldham at:
Phone: (901) 545-5500 or (901) 545-5686
Fax: (901) 545-3310
The Public Information Office promptly handles all requests made to the Sheriff. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office maintains an “open to the media” operation for all of the citizens of Shelby County, Tennessee.
Administrator IV - Janet Buhr
 |
| Janet Buhr |
Administrator IV Janet Buhr has been in the human resources field for over 30 years and is an active member of the National Society for Human Resources Management. Her career with the County began in 1977 in the Human Resources Department where she worked with Divisions reporting to the Shelby County Mayor and Elected Officials. From 1991-1995, she was responsible for human resources support for the Division of Corrections, and then the Jail Division. In 1995 she became the HR Administrator for the Sheriff’s Office. Currently she has the responsibility of managing the Human Resources Advisory Unit assigned to the Sheriff’s Office.
Planning and Research Administrator - Kim Hackney
 |
| Kim Hackney |
Planning and Research Administrator Kim Hackney was raised in Memphis and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree of Professional Studies with a concentration in paralegal studies from the University of Memphis. She began her career with Shelby County Government in 1997 as a paralegal in the County Attorney’s Office. Since 2001, she has served in the Sheriff’s Office holding the positions of Jail Population Management Analyst, Special Assistant to Sheriff Luttrell, and is now the Administrator of the Planning and Research Department.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for A Secret Safe Place for Newborns of Tennessee, Inc. as well as the Shelby County Domestic Violence Council.
Kim Hackney has been married to Raoul Hackney for over 12 years and is the mother of three daughters. Kim and Raoul live in Lakeland, Tennessee
.
Deputy Administrator of Training - Chief Joseph P. Ruff
 |
| Chief Joseph P. Ruff |
Deputy Administrator of Training Chief Joseph P. Ruff was appointed as the Director of Training for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on October 16, 2002 following his tenure as the Captain of the Shelby County Police Department.
Chief Ruff retired from the Memphis Police Department as a Captain on July 15, 2001 where his last assignment was Commanding Officer of the Firing Range.
Chief Ruff has a combined 24 years of active and reserve military service with the U. S. Army and the U. S. Navy in the career fields of ordnance and law enforcement and is the recipient of numerous military decorations including three Navy Achievement Medals and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Chief Ruff is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He holds over 20 separate training certifications, and he has conducted training classes for numerous police and military organizations both in this country and overseas.
He is the recipient of numerous World, National and State competitive shooting awards, and in 2000 he was an inaugural inductee into the Memphis Police Sports Federation Hall of Fame. He is a member of and serves on the boards of several professional organizations.
Assistant Chief of Jail Security - Robert Moore
 |
| Robert Moore |
Assistant Chief of Jail Security Robert Moore was born and educated in Memphis, Tn. Robert Moore began his pursuit of a career in corrections at Shelby State in 1982 majoring in Criminal Justice. Robert Moore began employment with the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections where he moved from the ranks of Officer to Captain between the years of 1984 until 1998. He received his first appointed position of Operational Manager in 1997. In 1999 he received another appointment to the position of Chief of Security also at the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections. Continuing to climb the preverbal ladder, Robert Moore was appointed Administrator of Operations in 2001. In late 2001, after the election of the new Sheriff, he was appointed to Chief of Security of Shelby County Jail Operations and holds that position until present. Robert Moore has a total of 25 years of service.
He has been married for 45 years, with 4 children. Robert Moore is a strong community activist who works with the youth football and basketball teams, neighborhood watch and acts as Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
Assistant Chief of Jail Programs - Rod Bowers
 |
| Rod Bowers |
Assistant Chief of Jail Programs Rod Bowers, a native Memphian, graduated with a bachelor’s degree and attended graduate school in psychology at Memphis State University while serving in the U.S. Army National Guard as medic. In 1972 he joined the staff of the Shelby County Division of Corrections working part-time in a special education program before going on to manage the Mental Health Unit and later all special need treatment units. He was Chief of Care & Custody for the Division when he joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2004. Rod serves as Assistant Chief Jailer of Programs for the Shelby County Jail. Bringing to the Jail experience implementing specialmanagement strategies for inmates, Rod’s current focus at the Jail is on expanding the role of Correctional Officers in Direct Supervision and implementing programs for inmates with special needs.