Dale County was created by an act of the Alabama Legislature on December 22, 1824, from parts of Henry, Covington, Barbour and Pike Counties, and was named for Samuel Dale, a highly decorated Indian fighter, scout and courier of vital military dispatches. Originally, the county seat was located at Dale Court House, which later became Daleville. An election in 1870 resulted in the removal of the county seat to Ozark where it stands today.

The Dale County Sheriff’s Office was created in 1827. James Boles was the first elected Sheriff serving from 1827 until 1828. To this date, 34 individuals have been elected to this office. One of the more colorful Sheriff’s in the History of the Sheriff’s Office, was Sheriff A.P. “Pat” White, who served from 1923 – 1927, and is seen below in a picture with his deputies and his two favorite hound dogs.

Dale County currently encompasses 561 square miles, which fall directly under the jurisdiction of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office. Dale County is home of Fort Rucker, the US Army's helicopter flight training installation. It is also home of the Alabama Aviation and Technical College. View Past Sheriffs