The OCSO Sheriff’s Star Charity is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established in 2014 by members of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Our mission is to support local law enforcement officers and their families during times of need or hardship, giving back to those who work tirelessly for our community. Additionally, we provide labor and financial assistance to activities, charities, and causes that benefit our community.
Our organization is entirely funded by community donations and contributions from individual employees of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, without any taxpayer funding. Our Board of Directors, made up of Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office members who volunteer their time to support our organization's mission, is responsible for collectively determining how these funds are used to best support those in need.
The five points on our logo represent the primary focus points of our organization:
Law Enforcement Officers
Animals/Environment
Children & Families
Local & National Charities
Food Banks
Join the OCSO Sheriff’s Star Charity on Saturday, October 5, 2024, for the competitive 2024 Jay Jones Memorial 2-Gun Match in Baker, Florida! All proceeds from the event will benefit the OCSO Sheriff's Star Charity.
With your support, we can assist students from families who require support during the holiday season.
Chick-fil-A of Destin recently hosted a "Chicken with a Cop" event and generously donated 10% of their day's sales to the OCSO Sheriff’s Star Charity! Along with our Board Members, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office Community Resource Deputies, Beach/Marine Unit, K-9 Unit, and Special Response Team were present for the chance engage with our wonderful community. A big thank you to Chick-fil-A for supporting local first responders and the OCSO Sheriff’s Star Charity!
Our primary mission is to support local law enforcement officers and their families during times of need or hardship. We have provided direct benevolent and financial assistance to numerous law enforcement families facing serious illnesses, injuries, casualties, and other unforeseen hardships.
Since our founding in 2014, we have raised funds for the families of three fallen Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputies, helping to alleviate the financial burdens they faced while coping with their tragic losses. These deputies are Deputy Sheriff Bill Myers, Deputy Sheriff Michael Neau, and Corporal Ray Hamilton.
In 2015, Deputy Myers was tragically shot and killed while serving a domestic violence injunction in Shalimar, Florida. In 2021, Deputy Neau passed away unexpectedly due to complications from an illness contracted while working at the OCSO Booking Facility. On Christmas Eve 2022, Corporal Hamilton was shot and killed while securing the perimeter of a barricaded domestic violence suspect's home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
When you support the OCSO Sheriff's Star Charity, you're also supporting other worthwhile causes in our community. We're proud to support various organizations with honorable missions that benefit the Okaloosa County area. Each year, we host an "Annual Giving Meeting" where local organizations present their causes to our Board of Directors and receive financial contributions.
A few of the charitable organizations we support include:
You'll find our members providing labor assistance for various community projects and events throughout the year. In addition, we consistently offer financial support for charitable events and causes that benefit our community.
Every year, we support the "Hospice Tree" program. We purchase miniature Christmas trees that are handed out to decorate. Once decorated, these trees go to patients of Emerald Coast Hospice, spreading holiday cheer and brightening their spirits.
We also team up with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers for the yearly "Angel Tree" program. In this effort, SROs find students whose families are having a tough time financially. The program makes sure each child gets sponsored, so they can receive gifts and have a happier holiday season.
We organize various fundraising events to support our organization's mission, including the annual 2-Gun Match hosted by ALTUS Shooting Solutions in Baker, Florida. This shooting competition emphasizes marksmanship precision and timed stages, attracting shooters from across the Florida Panhandle and beyond.
In 2024, we launched our first Winter Pickleball Blast fundraiser. Held in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, this exciting weekend of pickleball fun was a resounding success, drawing participants of all skill levels.
Another popular fundraiser is our annual 30 for 30 Gun Giveaway. Starting every fall, Charity members offer tickets with a suggested $30 donation. Every day in December, a ticket is drawn, and we give away a different gun each day for 30 days.