Deputy Chief David Butler started his career with the Allen County Sheriff’s Department in 1988 as a Civilian Confinement Officer.  In 1992 during Department re-structuring, he was the first Civilian Confinement Officer promoted to a supervisory position and in 1993 promoted to Shift Commander with the rank of Lieutenant.  Also in 1993, he was a charter member and Team Leader of the Allen County Jail Special Response Team. 

After serving almost 10 years in the jail, he was sworn in as a Police Officer in 1997 and was an Honor Graduate from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1998.  As a Police Officer, he worked in the Confinement Division, Communications Division, and Patrol Division.  While in the Patrol Division he was a Certified Field Training Officer, served on the Sheriff’s Department Color Guard, was a Crisis Intervention Team member, and was a Shift Supervisor with the rank of Corporal.  

Deputy Chief Butler Served 20 years on the SWAT team and was a SWAT Team Leader and later SWAT Commander for 14 years, during that time he successfully led the SWAT Team on 383 operations.  During his tenure on the SWAT Team, he was a Certified Explosive Handler and Advanced Explosive Breacher, as well as a graduate of the FBI Basic SWAT School, the DEA Clandestine Laboratory School, the NIMS Incident Command School, the FEMA Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents school and many other schools and certifications.

Deputy Chief Butler has been an Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Certified Instructor since 2003 and held additional certifications as a Physical Tactics Instructor, Advanced Emergency Vehicle Operation Instructor, and Taser Instructor.

In 2016 he was promoted to the Assistant Jail Commander, and in 2019 promoted to Jail Commander where he oversees the largest division in the Sheriff’s Department with 146 employees. Deputy Chief Butler has served the Sheriff’s Department and Citizens of Allen County for 33 years and has dedicated himself to selfless leadership, promoting teamwork and professionalism.