Sequoyah County Sheriff – Larry Lane

Sheriff Larry Lane Jr. began his law enforcement career in January 1991 when he was hired as a dispatcher by then Sheriff-Wade Stovall at the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. He served in that role until 1994, when he joined the Sallisaw Police Department as a dispatcher and coordinator of the reserve officer program. During this time, Larry also worked as a mail carrier for the Sallisaw Post Office.

In 1996, newly appointed Sheriff Johnny Philpot invited Larry to return to the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy. He accepted the position in early 1997. Over the next several years, Larry worked nights as a deputy while continuing his daytime postal route, all while coaching his son’s Little League baseball teams.

In 2004, Larry was promoted to Investigator with the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office and was assigned as a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He later accepted a Drug Task Force position with the District Attorney’s Office, continuing his ATF assignment and focusing on narcotics and firearms investigations across eastern Oklahoma—primarily in Adair, Cherokee, Wagoner, and Sequoyah Counties.

In 2012, Larry ran for Sheriff of Sequoyah County and narrowly lost in a 51–49% election. The following year, he stepped away from law enforcement to pursue opportunities in the private sector. During that time, he worked as an oil field flowback tester, train conductor, operated a metal roofing business, and helped build swimming pools.

Recognizing that law enforcement was his true calling, Larry returned to public service with brief tenures at the Tahlequah Police Department and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office before running again for Sequoyah County Sheriff in 2016. This time he was elected and took office in January 2017.

Since taking office, Sheriff Lane has remained proactive and focused on public safety. He began his first day in office conducting two drug raid operations and has continued a strong enforcement presence throughout his tenure. After his first four-year term, he was re-elected in 2020 with 82.4% of the vote. In 2024, he ran unopposed and began his third term in January 2025.

Sheriff Lane and his wife, LaLinda, are proud parents of five children and grandparents to eight grandchildren. The Lane family enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending as much time on the lake as possible.