The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Meet Your Neighbor

Meet your neighbor Hancock County Deputy Sergeant Josh Smith who is a candidate on the Republican ticket for Hancock County Sheriff.

Josh grew up in Oquawka with his mother and also spent time in La Harpe/Terre Haute with his father. He and his family have called Warsaw home for the past 20 years.

Josh has one brother, William Smith, and two sisters, Christina Lewis and Erin Smith. A 1998 graduate of Union High School, Josh attended college before beginning his law enforcement career in September 2000 with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.

In 2002, he married his wife, Melinda (Dixon), after being set up on a blind date. The couple has three children: Kyle (19), a sophomore at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, where he plays baseball; Evan (17), a senior at Warsaw High School, who participates in football, baseball, and wrestling, and is also enlisted in the Illinois National Guard; and Maci (15), a sophomore at Warsaw High School who enjoys basketball and softball.

The Smith family stays busy attending sporting events together. If they aren’t at home, they can usually be found at a ballgame somewhere.

Josh currently serves as a Deputy Sheriff with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, where he has worked since April 2008. Before that, he spent three years with the Warsaw Police Department. Altogether, he brings 25 years of law enforcement experience to his role.

He and his family are members of Burnside Christian Church. He is also active in the community as a Republican Precinct Committeeman, Warsaw Township Trustee, and member of the Sand Valley Fraternal Order of Police.

Outside of work, Josh devotes much of his time to coaching youth sports. He serves as the Head Coach for the Nauvoo-Colusa Jr. High Baseball team, Assistant Coach for the West Hancock Baseball team, and volunteers with several local youth baseball and softball programs at both the recreational and travel levels.

As a candidate for Hancock County Sheriff, Sergeant Smith is dedicated to serving everyone in the county by drawing on his years of experience in law enforcement. He is passionate about implementing positive changes to help the department grow and better serve the community.

His priorities include protecting youth, supporting victims of crime, and assisting those in crisis. He believes a proactive, community-oriented approach to combating methamphetamine, targeting drug dealers, while helping those struggling with addiction, will lead to reduced crime and stronger, safer communities throughout Hancock County.