JEFF DAVIS COUNTY, Texas — On Saturday, April 13, a crowd of people gathered at the Jeff Davis County Jail to applaud a ribbon cutting that commemorated the soft opening of a new museum.
The jail opened back in 1910 and there is a long long history that has come with it.
Jeff Davis County Judge Curtis Evans praised the work of the sheriff's throughout the years and told NewsWest 9 why it is so important that the jail is now a museum.
"Throughout our area, we have a lot of history of sheriff's coming in and the protection they gave us and the big part that they played and keeping this area safe," Judge Evans said. "[Son of Former Jeff Davis County Sheriff Wilbur Medley], Ben Medley, came to me asked me about a new museum honoring our law enforcement and I said it (the jail) is a perfect place."
Amongst the crowd of people to watch the ribbon cutting was former Brewster County Sheriff Carl C. Williams.
"Sheriff [Wilbur] Medley is a good friend of mine and him and I have spent time drinking coffee together around this place and means a lot to me to have this commemorating some of the officers working these areas," said Williams.
Along the panels of the jail are biographies of each sheriff and many others who worked in the Jeff Davis County Jail.
The wall panels were designed by a Fort Davis resident Heather Francell.
"I want to acknowledge the history all the way around," Francell said. "Our more modern guys can tell, have a lot more information. We have a lot more deputies and we have a lot more people doing good work in our area. And we want to keep striving for that."
The driving force of the jail turning into a museum was Ben Medley.
"It has been on my mind for a long time," Ben Medley said. "With my dad being a long time sheriff here, I was raised by law enforcement."
No matter the era, the law enforcement of Jeff Davis County are always on the job.