A 20-year veteran of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office was promoted to the rank of captain last week.

William D. Wilcox was promoted at a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Building Thursday afternoon, Oct. 13, in front of his family, friends, co-workers, chiefs of police, members of the Madison County Board of Supervisors and other county officials.

Acting Sheriff John Ball swore Wilcox in to his new position, responsible for all operations of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division, which includes road patrol, criminal investigations, narcotics investigations, special operations (SWAT), marine/snowmobile/ bicycle patrols, criminal records and fleet operations.

Wilcox will also have indirect oversight of the Sheriff’s Civil Division and Pistol Permit Office operations, as well as the Sex Offender Registry.

Wilcox’s daughter, Loryn, held the bible for her father to be sworn in with.

Wilcox started with the office in January 1997 as a part-time correction officer. After completing the police academy, Wilcox became a deputy sheriff in August 1999, promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2004 and lieutenant in 2005.

Wilcox was supervisor of the Criminal Investigations Unit until 2013, when he returned to uniformed duty as operations lieutenant for the Criminal Division.