The Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office is recruiting new deputies with a starting salary of $50,000 and a package of benefits, as the department faces scrutiny following a court ruling and ongoing allegations involving a Big Bend Times journalist.
The hiring notice promotes entry-level positions with overtime opportunities, health insurance, retirement through the Texas County & District Retirement System and a take-home vehicle program for deputies residing within the county. The department says it is seeking applicants with “integrity, dedication, and a strong sense of duty.”
The recruitment effort comes after a judge found that actions taken by Jeff Davis County officials violated a journalist’s habeas corpus rights, determining that restrictions placed on the journalist were unlawful.
According to the journalist, that ruling came before a subsequent encounter in June 2025, when he was forcibly removed and handcuffed while photographing a public commissioners court meeting — an incident that drew criticism from press freedom advocates and raised concerns about First Amendment protections.
The journalist has alleged that the incident involved physical abuse by law enforcement officers. He further alleges a broader pattern of coordinated harassment by county officials, including efforts to surveil him and pursue charges without a factual basis.
Those allegations have not been fully adjudicated in court, and county officials have not publicly addressed the claims in detail.
The controversy also includes a notice issued by county officials that attempted to bar the journalist from county buildings and proximity to officials. Critics argued the restriction lacked legal authority and interfered with newsgathering, an issue tied to the habeas corpus ruling.
Jeff Davis County, a sparsely populated region in the Davis Mountains, relies on a small sheriff’s office to patrol a large area. The department continues to promote the positions as an opportunity for public service.
Prospective applicants, however, would be entering a department under heightened scrutiny, where a court ruling, a physical confrontation involving a journalist and ongoing allegations have raised broader questions about constitutional rights, law enforcement conduct and government transparency.
