Cooke County Sheriff's Office

The Cooke County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency for Cooke County, Texas, operating under the authority of the county government. Its core responsibilities include patrolling unincorporated areas, responding to emergencies, conducting criminal investigations, managing the county jail, providing court security, and serving civil process such as warrants and subpoenas. As a sheriff’s office, it also enforces state statutes and local ordinances, works alongside municipal police departments, and engages in community outreach and crime prevention initiatives tailored to the rural and suburban characteristics of the county. The agency serves the residents of Cooke County by maintaining public safety, upholding the rule of law, and supporting the judicial system through its custodial and court‑related duties.

In July 2020 the agency was the target of a ransomware attack carried out by cybercriminals associated with the REvil strain. The attackers encrypted systems and exfiltrated potentially sensitive law enforcement data, including information related to past and ongoing cases, and threatened to release the stolen material unless a ransom was paid. County officials acknowledged the incident without confirming the extent of data compromise or disclosing any financial demands, noting that the attack reflected a broader resurgence of ransomware threats against U.S. local governments that combine encryption with data theft for extortion. The event highlighted the vulnerability of public sector information technology infrastructure and underscored the growing trend of threat actors leveraging stolen data to increase pressure on victims.

Structurally, the Cooke County Sheriff's Office is a division of Cooke County government, with the sheriff elected by county residents to oversee the agency’s operations. It does not have publicly disclosed parent or subsidiary entities beyond its placement within the county’s administrative framework. The office’s authority and funding derive from the county budget, and its personnel are appointed or hired in accordance with Texas state statutes governing sheriff’s departments. While specific metrics such as staff size or annual expenditures are not detailed in the available sources, the agency’s role as a county‑level law enforcement body positions it as a key component of the local public safety ecosystem.