I started with the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office in October 1994 as an auxiliary deputy sheriff. I attended the auxiliary academy and certified as an auxiliary deputy sheriff at the end of 1994 through Indian River Community College. In the beginning of 1995, I started the full-time academy at Indian River Community College. After graduation I was offered a deputy sheriff position with the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) by the then-sheriff, O.L. Raulerson. From 1995 to 1997, I worked as a Road Patrol deputy. In 1997 I took the position as the first School Resource Officer at Okeechobee High School.

Having an interest in working narcotics I transferred back to road patrol in 1998 where I began training a narcotics canine. In 1999, I certified with K9 “Widgen,” a 1-year-old Labrador retriever.

Canine “Widgen” became the second working canine at that time. Canine “Widgen” and I worked road patrol until 2001 when we transferred into the Okeechobee County Narcotics Task Force.

Canine “Widgen” worked for the OCSO for 14 years. During her 14 years, she was responsible for hundreds of arrests, as well as over a million dollars’ worth of seized narcotics, cash and vehicles.

From 1999 to tn\he present ,I have personally trained six different narcotics canines who have worked or work presently for the OCSO. I have also trained two canines who worked for surrounding agencies. In August 2005, I was promoted to sergeant of the Narcotics Task Force and later that same year became a member of the DEA Task Force, where I assisted with several federal narcotic cases in our area. In 2013 I left the narcotics unit and transferred to the Investigative Unit as a sergeant, where I worked a number of various crimes. In January 2019, I was promoted back to Road Patrol as a lieutenant.

Lt Jimmy Mills
Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office
504 N.W. Fourth Street
Okeechobee Fl 34972
e-mail: jmills@okeesheriff.com
Office: (863) 763-3117 Ext 5116