Welcome To Osage County
Oklahoma’s Largest County
At the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, our mission is to provide a solid foundation on which the residents of Osage County can thrive. We are committed to building public trust and fostering safe, secure communities through professional, high-quality professional law enforcement.
Osage County holds a unique place in Oklahoma’s history and geography. As the state’s largest county by area, it was established in 1907 when Oklahoma gained statehood. The county’s name and heritage are deeply tied to the federally recognized Osage Nation, whose reservation boundaries are coextensive with the county itself. This land became the Osage Nation Reservation in the 19th century following the relocation of the Osage people from Kansas.
The county seat, Pawhuska, is one of the first three towns founded in the county and remains a hub of history and culture. As of the 2020 Census, Osage County had a population of 45,818 residents.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county spans an impressive 2,304 square miles (5,970 km²), with 2,246 square miles (5,820 km²) of land and 58 square miles (150 km²) of water, accounting for 2.5% of its total area. Much of the landscape is part of the Osage Plains, characterized by open prairie, while the eastern portion features the rolling Osage Hills—an extension of Kansas’ Flint Hills. Nature enthusiasts can also explore the renowned Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, located just north of Pawhuska, where remnants of the once-vast tallgrass ecosystem are carefully preserved.
MEET OUR LEADERS
Bart Perrier
Sheriff
Billy Wakefield
Undersheriff
John Cummings
Chief Deputy
Jay Long
Jail Captain
Shane Rhames
Investigations Captain
𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐄 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 | 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐓
This month, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office is proud to recognize Investigator Brett Barnett, one of our longest continuously serving employees and a lawman whose career with OCSO now spans more than two decades.
Long before wearing a badge, Brett grew up around ranching and agriculture in northwestern Osage County and southern Kansas. He graduated from Dexter High School in Dexter, Kansas, in 1978, and those rural roots would later serve him well investigating crimes throughout Osage County.
Brett began his law enforcement career with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office as a Reserve Deputy in 2002. He later worked as a part-time deputy before beginning his full-time career with OCSO in February 2004 as a Patrol Deputy.
Since then, Brett has served under five Osage County Sheriffs—Sheriff Russell Cottle, Sheriff Wes Penland, Sheriff Ty Koch, Sheriff Eddie Virden, and Sheriff Bart Perrier—and has accumulated more than 1,500 hours of CLEET training.
Brett entered law enforcement during an especially challenging period in Oklahoma's battle with methamphetamine. Meth labs were a frequent occurrence, and Osage County deputies routinely encountered clandestine labs, dangerous chemicals, drug trafficking, and the property crimes that often accompanied the drug trade.
Brett quickly developed a knack for drug investigations.
In 2005, after serving on patrol, Brett was assigned to the District 10 Drug Task Force, putting him on the front lines of narcotics enforcement during the height of Oklahoma's meth-lab era.
He eventually returned to the Patrol Division, where he served as a shift deputy and continued advancing through the ranks. Brett was promoted to Corporal in 2007 and later to Sergeant, a position he held for many years while helping supervise and mentor other deputies.
In 2022, Brett transitioned full time into the Criminal Investigations Division, where his experience and instincts have proven especially valuable in an area of law enforcement he has always enjoyed—property crime investigations.
As Brett puts it, he loves working property cases, although years ago, “it used to be the hunt for a fat sack of dope.”
That same drive to find the evidence, identify the suspect, and put the pieces of a case together remains with him today.
“Brett is one of the most active employees we have. He brings more than two decades of experience to the job, but he still has the drive to get out there, work cases, find stolen property, and catch the people responsible. The Sheriff’s Office is lucky to have him.” — Sheriff Bart Perrier
From the meth-lab days of the early 2000s to today's complex property, drug, and criminal investigations, Brett has spent more than two decades serving the citizens of Osage County.
His knowledge of the county, investigative instincts, work ethic, and years of experience make him an invaluable part of the Osage County Sheriff’s Office.
Please join us in recognizing Investigator Brett Barnett and thanking him for more than 20 years of dedicated service to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Osage County.
#EmployeeHighlight #OCSO #OsageCounty #CriminalInvestigations #LawEnforcement #BehindTheBadge …
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REMEMBER ‼️ Impairment is impairment, no matter the substance — and impairment behind the wheel is DEADLY. Always drive sober.
#DriveSafe #DriveSober #ImpairedDriving #BuzzedDriving …
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𝐎𝐍 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐘: 𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐎𝐘𝐄𝐄𝐒 | 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐘
Osage County home to the Osage Nation and members of numerous other Native American tribes, whose families, traditions, and cultures have helped shape this county for generations.
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is proud of the Native American men and women who serve within our ranks as deputies, detention officers, dispatchers, and staff. They bring their own experiences, heritage, and commitment to an organization united by one mission: protecting and serving all the people of Osage County.
Every day, our personnel work throughout more than 2,200 square miles of Osage County, serving citizens regardless of where they live or their background. We also recognize the importance of cooperation between the Sheriff’s Office, the Osage Nation, tribal law enforcement agencies, and our other local, state, and federal partners in keeping our communities safe.
That connection is also represented in the leadership of our office. Sheriff Bart Perrier is a member of the Osage Nation and the first Osage Nation member elected to serve as Sheriff of Osage County.
On Native American Day, we are proud to recognize some of our Native American employees, honor the heritage and contributions of Native people throughout Osage County, and reaffirm our commitment to working together for safer communities.
One county. Many communities. One commitment to serve.
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼, 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁, 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 (𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲), 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘄𝗹 (𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗮𝘄 & 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝘄), 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗱 (𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲). 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 (𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲), 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗻 (𝗢𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗮, 𝗦𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘅 & 𝗢𝗺𝗮𝗵𝗮), 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗰𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 (𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗸 & 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗲), 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗹𝗼𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘆 (𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗲) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗺 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗲𝗲 (𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗮𝘆𝘂𝗴𝗮 & 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗲).
#NativeAmericanDay #OsageCountySheriffsOffice #OCSO #OsageCounty #OsageNation #NativeAmerican #Community #Service #PublicSafety …
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𝐎𝐂𝐒𝐎 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐑
On Friday night, September 18, 2026, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received information that a wanted individual was staying at a residence in the 600 block of North Cosden Avenue in Shidler.
Osage County Dispatch confirmed that Seneca Thomas, 40, was wanted out of Kay County on an outstanding felony warrant in Case No. CF-2021-00070, involving a charge of Trafficking in Illegal Drugs, with bond set at $400,000.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., an Osage County Deputy located Thomas at an apartment in the 600 block of North Cosden and took her into custody without incident.
Thomas was subsequently transferred to the custody of the Kay County Sheriff’s Office and transported to the Kay County Detention Center.
This is an arrest not a conviction.
#OsageCountySheriffsOffice #OCSO #Shidler #OsageCounty #WarrantArrest …
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Here are our monthly stats for August! …
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🎡🤠 IT’S FAIR TIME, OSAGE COUNTY! 🤠🎡
The Osage County Sheriff’s Office would like to welcome everyone to the 2026 Osage County Free Fair, happening September 13–19 at the Osage County Fairgrounds in Pawhuska!
Come out and enjoy a week full of family fun, rodeo events, livestock shows, carnival rides, live entertainment, great food, and plenty of Osage County tradition! 🎠🐄🐴🍔
There’s something for everyone, and we hope you’ll take the time to get out, enjoy the fair, support our community, and make some memories with your family and friends.
👮♂️ The Osage County Sheriff’s Office looks forward to seeing you at the fair!
🎟️ Come on out, have fun, and enjoy YOUR Osage County Free Fair!
#OsageCountyFreeFair #OsageCounty #Community #FamilyFun #SeeYouAtTheFair #OCSO …
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