Roy Dominguez

Sheriff Dominguez was elected Lake County Sheriff in 2002 and he took his oath of office on January 1, 2003. He is the only elected Sheriff of Lake County with a Juris Doctorate and only one of seven nationwide. His experience in law enforcement first as an Indiana State Trooper, Public Defender, and Deputy Prosecutor prepared him well for the challenges and duties of a Sheriff. At the Indiana State Police Academy he was awarded the Donald Flint Award for being first in his class. His short stint as a steelworker at Inland Steel as an Apprentice Millwright equipped him for the challenges in college earning his Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Indiana University NWI and his Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University.

Dominguez's legal experience has been in personal injury, family practice, juvenile and criminal law. His court practice include the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, the United States District Court, the Southern District of Indiana, the Indiana State Supreme Court, and the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.

He was legal counsel for the Lake County Assessor's Office, Special Counsel for the Indiana Department of Revenue, Corporate Counsel for the City of East Chicago, School Corporation Counsel for the River Forest Community School Corporation in Hobart, he served as Chairman of the Board and then Administrative Law Judge of the of the Indiana Workers' Compensation Board in Indianapolis.

Dominguez received Indiana's prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash from the Honorable Governor Evan Bayh in 1989. Governor Bayh also issued a Proclamation recognizing March 16,1990 as "Roy Dominguez Day". He received the "Swamp Rabbit" Environmental Achievement Award presented by the Indiana Division of the Izaak Walton League of America, Inc. in 2007.

Dominguez is president of the Hispanic Organization Promoting Excellence (HOPE) which dedicates itself to mentoring and assisting young people to continue their quest for higher education. He is the proud recipient of numerous leadership and community awards. His maxim of "Family First" includes his lifelong partner of 30 years, Ms. Maria Elizabeth "Betty" Olayta Dominguez, his two daughters Veronica and Maria and his mother Hortencia "Tencha" Dominguez.

Personal:

Wife: Maria Elizabeth Olayta Dominguez Children: Veronica Celina Olayta Dominguez Maria Virginia Olayta Dominguez.