Biography

Sheriff Noel Stephen has served the residents of Okeechobee County as a member of the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office for the past 30 years. Sheriff Stephen is a 1984 graduate of Okeechobee High School and began his career as a volunteer with the Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue, then as an Emergency Medical Technician and Certified Volunteer Firefighter. He started as a road patrol deputy in 1994, and was elected sheriff in 2016. For 12 years preceding his election Sheriff Stephen served as Undersheriff for Okeechobee County Sheriff Paul May, where a key responsibility included preparation of the sheriff’s office budget. He also served in other OCSO command and staff positions as a captain and major for 16 years. Sheriff Stephen has attended numerous advanced educational classes. His extensive law enforcement training includes: the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Command Institute; the FDLE Criminal Justice Institute Chief Executive Academy; the FDLE Criminal Justice Institute Effective Budgeting for Criminal Justice Agencies; the Florida Sheriff’s Association Executive Training; the Institute of Police Technology and Management Developing Law Enforcement Managers; the Northwestern State University Command Staff Development Institute; the Advanced Incident Command System Complex Incidents Training. Sheriff Stephen is married to Vanessa and he has two sons.