Crime Tipline 1-877-CRIME-82

Russell County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff John R. Fletcher

Born to Dick and the late Betty Fletcher July 4, 1964, in Amarillo, Texas, John is the youngest of three children. He is married to a wonderful wife, Heather, and they have two children, a daughter Jessica, 19; and a son Justice, 12. Though he was born in Texas, his family moved to Goodland, Kansas in 1970 when his father took a job as a salesman for Ulysses Irrigation Pipe Company. His first grade through high school years were spent with the Goodland “Cowboys”, and during that time he was very active in athletics.

He graduated from Goodland High School in May 1982, and went on to attend Fort Hays State University. After a year and a half, he realized that he was not in a place in his life where college was the right fit. In January 1984, he was hired by Allied Cementing in Russell, Kansas, where he worked as both a bulk truck driver and a pump truck driver. In March 1985, he was hired by the Russell County Sheriff’s Office as an EMT/Jailer. He knew his niche was law enforcement. At that time, the ambulance service was still being operatd out of the Sheriff’s Office, so employees were required to wear two hats, one as a certified Emergency Medical Technician and the other as a Jailer/Correctional Officer. During that same timeframe, he also worked for the Russell City Fire Department, rising to the rank of Engineer and becoming a certified Fire Fighter I. He remained at the Sheriff’s Office until July 1988, when he went to work as a patrolman for the Russell Police Department. In January 1989, he entered the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in the 105th Academy Class, and graduated in March of that year. While employed by the Russell Police Department, he became a certified instructor in Doppler Traffic Radar and Firearms, obtained an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from Barton County Community College, reached the rank of Senior Patrolman, and was the recipient of two Bronze Wreath of Meritorious Service awards.

On October 13, 1999, he was appointed by then Governor Bill Graves to fill an unexpired term as Sheriff of Russell County. His first official act as Sheriff was to appoint longtime friend and fellow law enforcement officer Max Barrett as his Undersheriff. Max brought with him not only years of experience, but extensive training, both of which have assisted in shaping the office into what it is today.