NCSO News

Saturday, December 9, 2023 – Donnie Rannefeld, age 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Abilene on Saturday, December 9th, 2023. Rannefeld served as Nolan County Sheriff for three terms from 1997 until 2009. Prior to becoming Sheriff, Rannefeld had a full career with the Texas Department of Public Safety as a Trooper for over 26 years. Rannefeld even came back out of retirement from being Sheriff and served another 3 ½ years as a Deputy for the NCSO doing prisoner transports. All together Rannefeld had 45 years of full-time service as a dedicated Texas Peace Officer.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Nita, daughter Melissa, and grandsons Zach and Chase. Donnie Rannefeld leaves behind a legacy of public service and many close friends in law enforcement. He will be dearly missed.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Friday, December 15, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Sweetwater with Rev. Tique Hamilton officiating. Interment will follow at Roscoe Cemetery directed by McCoy Funeral Home.

Sheriff David Warren

The Nolan Sheriff’s Office replaced the 21-year-old circular patch worn on officers’ shoulders with a new shield design while connecting with the history of our agency.

The old circular shoulder patch shown on the right was adopted in 1997, during Donnie Rannefeld’s tenure as Nolan County Sheriff. The current shield design shoulder patch (center) was adopted in 2018, under the leadership of Sheriff David Warren.

The shield shape of the patch is recognition of the shield as a symbol of protection.

The State of Texas, widely known as the “Lone Star State,” features colors known worldwide that denote red for courage, white for purity and liberty, and blue for loyalty.

The gold star, positioned where Nolan County inhabits the state, represents ALL of Texas and stands for our unity as one for God, State, and Country”. The gold star further represents the shape of the badge of Law and Order of the frontier days and thereby its recognition of the founding of law enforcement in this great country.

The new shoulder patch is viewed as a symbol that stands on its own merits and is meant to represent the agency’s longstanding dedication and service to the community while ushering in a new era and generation of Deputies and Jailers with pride, integrity, and professionalism.

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time position of Patrol Deputy and Courthouse Security Deputy.

Open until filled

Shift: Courthouse Deputies work Monday – Friday either 8:00 or 8:30AM until 5:00 or 5:30PM with an hour off for lunch.  Weekends and 13 paid holidays off.

Duties: Conduct screening of persons entering the facility and perform investigations and searches to ensure safety and deter those who would take violent action against anyone in the courthouse for any reason. Courtroom security and bailiff duties are also provided by the Courthouse Security Deputies. May perform other related duties as required, and functions may vary by individual assignment.

Qualifications: Background investigation including drug screen.  Must be licensed as a Peace Officer with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) or have already completed a TCOLE approved Basic Peace Officer Academy, including having successfully passed the state peace officer licensing exam, and must meet all requirements to become fully licensed as a Texas Peace Officer. Some combination of sitting, twisting the upper body, reaching, bending, stooping, standing, walking, kneeling, the use of arms and hands for computer input, crouching, climbing, and may involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of extremely heavy objects (150+ pounds).

For a full description and to apply, please visit our website at https://nolanso.com/oppcourthousedeputy.html.

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking a qualified candidate to fill the full-time position of Patrol Deputy.

Open until filled

Shift: Patrol Deputies work a standard 5-day (40 hour) work week with two days off.  Most Patrol Deputies will work either 5:00AM – 2:00AM or 4:00PM – 1:00AM. 

Duties: Enforce federal, state and local law by serving legal documents, patrolling assigned areas, apprehending suspects and making arrests, responding to service calls, and making traffic stops. Performs investigations and searches, writes reports and provides court testimony. Transports inmates to and from the court system, and prison facilities. Administrates educational programs in various community-oriented programs. Coordinates emergency mental health commitments. May perform other related duties as required, and functions may vary by individual assignment.

Qualifications: Background investigation including drug screen.  Must be licensed as a Peace Officer with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) or have already completed a TCOLE approved Basic Peace Officer Academy, including having successfully passed the state peace officer licensing exam, and must meet all requirements to become fully licensed as a Texas Peace Officer. Some combination of sitting, twisting the upper body, reaching, bending, stooping, standing, walking, kneeling, the use of arms and hands for computer input, crouching, climbing, and may involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of extremely heavy objects (150+ pounds).

For a full description and to apply for patrol, please visit our website at https://nolanso.com/oppdeputy.html.

Jacob Gonzalez was sworn in Friday, October 1, 2021, at the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office as the newest Deputy Sheriff. In attendance at the swearing in were his new colleagues including, Sheriff David Warren.

Jacob is a native of Brownsville, Texas, and a 2010 Benjamin Franklin High School graduate. He graduated from the Permian Basin Law Enforcement Academy, in Midland, and has been in law enforcement for three years, including working as a county jailer for the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and a patrol officer for the Big Spring Police Department.

We wish Deputy Gonzalez the best and look forward to his service.