Administration

• Sheriff
• Undersheriff
• Chief Deputy
• Director of Community Engagement
• Director of Emergency Management
• Commander of Corrections
• Commander of Police Services

Sheriff

Jerry L. Clayton

Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton took office on January 1, 2009. Prior to his running for office Jerry served twenty years with the WCSO.  His career experience includes assignments/appointments as a Corrections Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Shift Sergeant, Operations Lieutenant, County Court Security Commander, SWAT Team Commander, Corrections Division Commander and Police Services Division Commander. Sheriff Clayton retired in 2006 to go into private law enforcement consulting work.

While in the private sector Jerry was a partner and Vice President of Lamberth Consulting, LLC, a company providing statistical analysis, training, and engagement services focused on addressing racial profiling and biased enforcement issues throughout the United States and Europe. He has been a certified criminal justice trainer and instructor for more than sixteen years, specializing in a multitude of subject areas including; use of force disciplines, physical training, special weapons and tactics, cultural diversity, preventing racial profiling, and in the areas of staff management and supervision, developing customer service delivery strategies, and organizational leadership. He provided consulting services to the U.S. Department of Justice- National Institute of Corrections, assisting in the development and delivery of various training curricula to local, state and federal correctional agencies throughout the United States.

Sheriff Clayton attended Eastern Michigan University and majored in Organizational Communication.  He also graduated from the Eastern Michigan School of Staff and Command and from the SCH Executive Leadership program. Contact Sheriff Clayton

Undersheriff

Mark Ptaszek

Undersheriff Ptaszek’s professional career spans over 34 years of justice and human service work in Washtenaw County.  In addition to serving at all levels and capacities in the Sheriff’s Office, he has served as the 14A District Court Administrator and Interim Director of Washtenaw County Community Mental Health.

Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and has engaged in graduate studies at both EMU and Wayne State University.  He has particiated in a wide vareity of professional and technical training and has taught at the college level.

Mark has been active with the Boy Scouts (both of his sons are Eagle Scouts), MSU Extension, SAFEHouse Center and the American Red Cross.  He has been a student of the martial arts and enjoys training dogs. Contact Undersheriff Ptaszek

Chief Deputy 

Rick Kaledas

Chief Deputy Kaledas has over 25 years of law enforcement experience, both in Corrections and Road Patrol. In Corrections, he rose from Corrections Officer to Lieutenant and Jail Administrator, and in Road Patrol from Deputy to Lieutenant. Chief Deputy Kaledas is a recognized authority in the Criminal Justice field. He has taught at the University level and on behalf of the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) in various capacities since 1998. Chief Deputy Kaledas has served as a trainer for the NIC Academy and for its Jails Division, and has been a guest speaker and/or instructor at many National and State of Michigan Conferences, with Inmate Behavior Management being a particular field of expertise.  He assisted with the NIC project that resulted in the NIC publication, “Resource Guide for Jail Administrators” as well as other NIC publications. In 2006 Chief Deputy Kaledas was chosen as the recipient of the American Jail Association’s prestigious Correctional Administrator of the Year Award. Contact Chief Deputy Kaledas

Director of Community Engagement

Derrick Jackson

Director Jackson graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor in Social Work in 1998. A proud EMU alum he continues to teach as an adjunct lecturer within the School of Social Work. While receiving his Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan, Derrick worked with W.J. Maxey Training School where he had his introduction to the criminal justice system. In 2000 he began his work at Ozone House, spending the next several years in the trenches working the streets with Washtenaw Counties at risk young people.

In 2004 Derrick set his eyes on elected office where he ran for the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees, and although he would lose by one vote, that experience would not go unnoticed. County Clerk, Larry Kestenbaum, appointed Derrick as the Director of Elections for the County of Washtenaw, where he remained up until coming to the Sheriff's Office in 2009.  

With a background in direct service, community organizing and politics he continues his commitment to the community by serving on numerous local boards, committees, and by volunteering with several youth programs. Contact Director Jackson

 Commander of Corrections

 Sherry E. Woods

Director of Emergency Management

Marc C. Breckenridge

Director Breckenridge recently joined the Sheriff’s Office after 29 years of public safety experience including 11 years in Emergency Medical Services and almost 18 years in county government as Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.  Marc now leads the Emergency Management Division of the Sheriff’s office, and continues to serve in his roles as Chair of the Homeland Security Task Force, Emergency Coordinator for the Local Emergency Planning Committee, founding member and treasurer of the Hazardous Materials Response Team Authority Board, and as Washtenaw County’s representative and Vice-chair of the Southeast Michigan Homeland Security Board.

Director Breckenridge has served on two joint federal Curriculum Advisory Committees to develop Emergency Management and Severe Weather training programs and has frequently presented or instructed at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College Police Academy, and for the National Weather Service.

Marc has earned Bachelor’s degrees in Hazardous Materials and Paramedic Technology from Siena Heights University and is a graduate of the Central Michigan University Center for Public Service and the Federal Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  Marc is a nationally Certified Emergency Manager and holds Michigan certifications as a Professional Emergency Manager, Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Professional, and licensed Paramedic.  He has received two commendations for lifesaving action beyond the call of duty, five meritorious service citations and six awards for administrative excellence. Contact Director Breckenridge

Commander of Police Services

Dieter Heren