Wichita County Sheriff David Duke hangs up the badge

WICHITA COUNTY, Texas (KAUZ) - After more than four decades of service to Wichita County, Sheriff David Duke will officially retire on Aug. 31.

Duke began his law enforcement career in the summer of 1982, starting as the youngest jailer in the county’s history. Nearly 45 years later, he’s preparing to hang up his badge.

Elected as sheriff in 2008, Duke has spent the past 17 years leading the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office. He said retirement, for him, simply means making time for the things he loves.

“I know I can stay longer. But I know it’s time for me to take care of my family and my wife and just do things that we want to do while we’re still in good health I want to do that like travel and doing things. It’s hard to get things done when they’re working,” Duke said.

Duke said he believes the department will be in good hands with Deputy Chief William Rutledge, his second-in-command and longtime friend.

“I know when I retire, that my Chief Deputy, William Rutledge, he’s just going to pick up and do the same thing. We don’t do everything identically, because we’re obviously different people, but we’ve been friends for over 30-plus years,” Duke said.

Rutledge, who has been with Duke since he took office, said Duke’s retirement marks the end of an era.

On behalf of News Channel 6, we thank Sheriff Duke for his many years of dedicated service to Wichita County and wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.