Wichita County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to dedicate the law enforcement center administrative offices as the John David Duke Administrative Offices. The motion, made and seconded during the Sept. 2 meeting, passed unanimously 5-0.
County Judge opened the discussion by saying public buildings should remain county property while noting the court still may honor officials with room dedications. The judge described Duke’s career: more than 40 years with the sheriff’s office and roughly 17 years serving as sheriff, and credited Duke’s effort to obtain voter approval for a new jail and the law enforcement center.
The move will apply to the administrative offices inside the law enforcement center rather than changing the building’s primary designation. Commissioner Beauchamp and others described the county’s training and detention facilities as among the region’s strongest and said Duke’s leadership was instrumental in delivering those facilities.
Some commissioners voiced a different view about naming public property. One member said the building is taxpayer property and noted a preference to retain a neutral name such as Wichita County Law Enforcement Center; the court nevertheless approved the dedication of the administrative offices to John David Duke.
The court took the vote after a brief public presentation and discussion, recording the motion and second as the formal action. The motion passed 5-0.
The dedication will appear in county records and signage plans as the John David Duke Administrative Offices at the LEC; the court did not take additional budgetary or construction actions as part of the motion.