.png)
COUNTY SHERIFF
PERSONAL
Sheriff Derek Fell has served with the Sheriff’s Office since 2002. He is a life-long resident of Vigo County. He graduated from Terre Haute South High School in 1998. Fell later obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from Indiana State University. He is married to his wife Ali and they have two daughters.
In his personal life, Sheriff Fell cherishes time spent with family. Fell finds pleasure in doing yard work, being outdoors, and working out. While he acknowledges his game needs a lot of work, he also enjoys playing golf when he has free time. He has attended Maryland Community Church for over 25 years.
Fell previously worked in loss prevention at Kmart, collections at Old National Bank, and safety and security at Gibault School before joining the Sheriff's Office in 2002. Even at an early age, he was trying to build upon his experience to help prepare him for a law enforcement career.
SERVICE
Sheriff Fell began his law enforcement career in 2002 as a correctional officer at the Vigo County Jail. In 2004, he was appointed as a merited deputy sheriff. Over the course of his 22 year career as a deputy sheriff, Fell has held various positions within the Sheriff's Office, encompassing assignments on all three patrol shifts, Interstate Criminal Enforcement Unit, Honor Guard, Criminal Activity Task Force Unit, Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Investigation, Cold Case Homicides, and Administration.
Throughout his career, Sheriff Fell has also occupied various leadership positions, including Assistant Corrections Supervisor, Reserve Deputy Coordinator, Criminal Activity Task Force Commander, Wage Committee Chairman, Awards Committee Chairman, and most recently, Chief of Operations, before taking office as our 54th Sheriff in August 2024.
CERTIFICATIONS/AWARDS
Sheriff Fell is a law enforcement professional, having received two Sheriff's Commendations and two Homicide Unit Recognition awards. He has also been recognized for his exceptional service as Reserve Deputy Coordinator and his contributions to the Criminal Activity Task Force Unit. He was the Criminal Activity Task Force’s co-founder and assigned as the units first Commander. Notably, in 2024, he was selected as the U.S. Navy Blue Angel Key Community Influencer.
Sheriff Fell has previously been certified as a Taser instructor, general instructor, and less lethal munitions certified. He has also assisted with firearms training, emergency vehicle operations, active shooter training, and traffic stop training throughout his career.
Sheriff Fell has attended and completed various law enforcement trainings, including Emerging Leaders, Leadership in Policing, Crime Scene Investigation School, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Crime Analysis, Street Survival, Advanced Interviewing and Interrogation, Advanced Highway Criminal Interdiction, Advanced Commercial Vehicle Criminal and Terrorist Interdiction, among others.
COMMUNITY
Sheriff Fell believes transparency and community involvement are two key pieces to successful relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and our community. He currently or has served on the board for Chances and Services for Youth (CASY), Community Corrections Advisory Board, Ivy Tech Advisory Board, Hamilton Center, Boys and Girls Club, as well as Crossroads of America Volleyball Club. He has actively participated in Real Men that Read Program for the last several years. Sheriff Fell has participated in Shop with a Cop as well as Power of the Purse event and the Special Olympics Program. Sheriff Fell is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 85.
Throughout his career Fell has developed various community related presentations and programs. He enjoys being active in the community and has presented on investigations, crime scene investigation, Sheriff’s Office operations, and policing in the community to various organizations; including Junior Police Academy, OLLI, EMA, Westminster Village, Vigo County School Corporation, Vigo County History Center, Local Pastor groups, as well as other community events and organizations. He has recently implemented “Meet Your Sheriff’s Office”. This program interacts with local businesses, organizations, and community members to meet with deputies and engage in conversation.
VISION and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Sheriff Fell is committed to a proactive policing approach and fosters this mindset among deputies to better serve and protect Vigo County. As a dedicated supporter of the Sheriff's Office and its personnel, he has continuously championed initiatives to enhance salaries, benefits, training, and equipment. Sheriff Fell is cognizant of the broad range of responsibilities that come with being a Sheriff, including not only overseeing patrol and investigations, but other vital areas; such as corrections, sex and violent offender registry as well as county building security - all which necessitate a concentrated effort in order to oversee effective operations of a Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Fell credits his accomplishments to the expertise and dedication of the individuals who have led before him and with whom have served by his side. Securing a deputy sheriff position is a difficult task, and professional development is an even more intricate process, made easier serving alongside our communities hero’s. Through numerous challenges a law enforcement officer faces in a career, Sheriff Fell remains eager to continue his service with the Vigo County Sheriff's Office by continuing to serve as Vigo County’s 54th Sheriff.