*Please contact Colfax County Sheriff with any information, photos, articles, or artifacts you may have related to the history of the Sheriff’s office. We are committed to accurately preserving and sharing the history of the office of the Colfax County Sheriff.
History of the Colfax County Sheriff
Colfax County Sheriff’s
- 1869 Att. VanHousen (Appointed)
- 1869 Adolph Ernst
- 1871 George H. Wells
- 1875 James Hughes
- 1877 George Wells
- 1881 J.P. Smith
- 1884 J. McCurdy
- 1896 Chris Kroeger
- 1897 Angus McLeod
- 1901 James A. Fiala
- 1905 O. VanHousen
- 1907 Anton J. Kaspar
- 1911 C.H. Smith
- 1914 Cameron Gray
- 1916 Jos R. Bartunek
- 1922 John J. Healy
- 1926 Philip Roether
- 1938 Ed Patach
- 1962 Richard Kruse
- 1978 Maurice Salak
- 1982 Richard Kruse
- 1990 Lynn Blum
- 2010 Paul Kruse
- 2020 Shawn Messerlie
Adolph Ernst was the first elected law officer in Colfax County. He was elected in 1869 and residents were so law-abiding he never needed to pin on his badge during his tenure. Prior to his election the County Commissioners appointed the sheriff.
Meaning of the Seven Point Star
According to Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle, the seven point star dates back to 1886 in his city and the seven points stand for the seven seals mentioned in the Book of Revelations. Which are: VIRTUE, DIVINITY, PRUDENCE, FORTITUDE, HONOR, GLORY and PRAISING GOD.
-San Francisco Chronicle
 Herb Caen
 July-August 1970
