Aaron Hanson, the Douglas County sheriff, has made staff growth a priority since taking office in 2023. When he first started, the office had about 130 deputies and civilians, but it now has around 165 people. Hanson’s efforts to increase staffing and provide higher salaries have led to an increase in road patrols in the unincorporated area of Douglas County, which has a population of about 110,000.
The Community Action Team focuses on issues like street racing, speeding, and other traffic enforcement, while the Special Operations Group targets drug-related crimes, warrants, and other criminal activity. The sheriff’s office also handles security at the county courthouse and problem-solving courts, including those for adults with drug issues and young adults.
Staffing and Operations
The office has nine investigators dedicated to specialized areas, including financial crimes. Adding two civilian analysts has helped relieve pressure on investigators, allowing them to spend more time on cases. Hanson believes that analysts are essential in modern law enforcement, as they help differentiate crime data and sort through digital evidence.
Hanson is impressed by the professionalism of the sheriff’s office, saying that having a team that is professional, compassionate, and dedicated is essential to success. Creating a financial crimes unit has helped reduce fraud and scams in Douglas County, with two deputies dedicated to investigating these crimes.
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Hanson’s office led the state to regulate the use of crypto ATMs, with a daily spending cap and a placard warning users of possible scams. This has reduced the amount of money people have lost statewide due to scams. The sheriff’s office has also seen a 60% drop in sex offender violations in the last year, thanks to a full-time deputy investigator dedicated to monitoring sex offenders.
However, the office has faced criticism for its handling of homeless people and encampments. Hanson denies these criticisms, saying that the office takes a balanced approach to assisting homeless people while also enforcing laws. A homeless services coordinator was hired in 2026 to work with deputies and area nonprofits to assist homeless individuals.
The sheriff’s office has engaged with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in some situations involving undocumented immigrants, despite not having an official agreement with the county. Hanson believes that cooperating with federal partners, including ICE, is necessary to keep the community safe, regardless of immigration status.
Some community leaders have expressed concerns that working with ICE may deter people of color from calling 911 about crimes, fearing they may be taken into custody. Hanson disagrees, saying that his office has an obligation to protect all innocent people in the community, and that focusing on criminal actors will prove to the law-abiding immigrant community that they have nothing to fear.
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Hanson’s opponent, Mark Martinez, has raised concerns about the sheriff’s office working with ICE, citing a lack of training and law enforcement backgrounds among ICE officers. Hanson disagrees with Martinez’s concerns, saying that any real law enforcement officer would work with ICE to remove criminals from the community, regardless of their immigration status.
Hanson gave an example of an elderly person being defrauded by a Russian national who was in the country illegally, asking what Martinez would do in such a situation. He questioned whether Martinez would not coordinate with ICE to have the individual removed, saying that any law enforcement officer would take such action to protect the community.
Hanson’s term as sheriff will be decided in the November 3 general election, where he will face Democratic challenger Mark Martinez.
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