Sheriff Lane Akin

Lane has served more than 38 years as an active duty law enforcement officer. On March 1, 2016, he was elected to be the Wise County Sheriff. He began his career at D/FW Airport with their Department of Public Safety in 1974. Two years later Lane joined the Texas Department of Public Safety. He served as a Highway Patrol Trooper, a Narcotics Agent, Texas Ranger and a Texas Ranger supervisor. Lane was a member of the first DPS Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team for Region 1. Just prior to retirement, he was the supervising Texas Ranger Lieutenant for Company “B,” the northeastern corner of Texas. He served as the Wise County Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Captain prior to becoming Sheriff. A native of Texas, Lane earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Texas A&M Commerce. He moved to Decatur in 1992 to serve as the Texas Ranger for Wise, Jack, and Montague County. He was twice named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Wise, Jack, and Montague County Criminal Justice Association. He and his wife Kay have been married for more than 50 years. They have two children and seven grandchildren.