NCSO Captain York - 2 Decades of Jail Excellence

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By Kris Smith

A day in the life of Captain Charlie York is not as clear as some might think.

Captain York began his career at the Navarro County Jail nearly 20 years ago, starting from the bottom and working his way to where he is today.

York stated, “I’ve been at the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office in Corrections, since 2007, and I’ve held all of the ranks.”

Certified as a Jail Administrator, he was made Lieutenant in 2014 and has held the Captain’s title since 2015. He serves as a board member of the North Texas Behavioral Authority and has received accolades across the county such as – 2020 Deputy of the Year Detention officer of the year 2017, received his associate’s degree in criminal justice at Navarro College and is a Master Jailer.

Captain York also attained his Texas Peace Officer License in 2011.

He also serves as a Training Instructor and Training Coordinator for the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office.

A normal workday could include inmate transport or attending meetings, or it could shift in a moment’s notice. York said, “I enjoy doing what I do – talking to the inmates and finding out where they come from is the most interesting part of my job.”

Leading the Navarro County Jail can be stressful and thankless, however it does not seem to sway the Captain. With a crew of 72 officers under his leadership and the responsibility of up to 300 inmates, the Captain does his best to maintain the order of law at the Navarro County Justice Center.

He stated, “I try to stay calm as much as I can. We try to treat everyone – inmates and employees — as we want to be treated.”

Navarro County Sheriff Elmer Tanner stated, “I am proud to have Captain York as my Jail Administrator. He is a state certified Jail Administrator and his knowledge and experience are invaluable to the daily operations of the facility and his contributions and dedication are appreciated.”

We asked Captain York a few questions recently:

What do you think makes a good detention officer?
Dedication. We do not do it for money. You must have the heart for it – for law enforcement, integrity, compassion, and understanding.

Challenges & Pride

What are the biggest challenges facing the Navarro County Jail today?
Competitive pay with other agencies – with the negativity against law enforcement – we are not a very popular career choice.

What improvement are you most proud of during your time here?
The most important is being able to provide the officers with the technology needed to do their job effectively and safely.

Connection to the Community

How important is community trust when it comes to running a county jail?
I am in charge of a very large budget, and I have to be entrusted by the citizens – remaining frugal regarding spending.

Personal Life & Balance

How does your family support you in this career?
My wife comes from a LEO family; she is well versed in corrections. She understands and supports my career.

Has this job changed how you see people or your community?
It has changed who I am, I have learned to read people a bit better. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Closing Question

If readers could walk through the jail with you for a day, what do you think would stand out to them the most?
The functionality of the facility – I think citizens would be surprised by the differences between real life and television.

Captain York is married to wife Ashley, and together they adopted three sons in 2017.