Sheriff Bart Perrier is a sixth-generation Osage County resident with deep roots in the community. Born and raised on the family ranch northeast of Barnsdall, OK, Bart continues to live there with his wife, Julia. The Perrier ranch, originally settled in 1906 by Bart’s great-grandfather Lee (Leo) Perrier, remains part of Lee’s original Osage Tribal allotment. Bart graduated from Barnsdall High School in 1995.
Bart began his law enforcement career in July 1997 with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Russell Cottle. Starting as a detention officer, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a civil deputy and later a field deputy. In 1999, he graduated from the CLEET Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
From 2001 to 2002, Bart served as a police officer with the Osage Nation Tribal Police, where he received specialized training and certification in Indian Country Jurisdiction. He then returned to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office in 2002, where he was assigned as a K-9 handler and graduated from the Oklahoma Department of Public Police K-9 Patrol and Narcotics Detection Handlers Academy. By 2005, Bart had been promoted to field sergeant.
In 2006, he graduated from the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement and Training Criminal Investigation Academy and was assigned as a central area investigator. The following year, Bart was appointed Reserve Deputy Coordinator, responsible for recruiting, training, and supervising Osage County reserve deputies while continuing his investigative duties. Over the years, Bart worked under three sheriffs: Russell Cottle, Wes Penland, and Ty Koch.
In February 2011, Bart accepted a position as a Special Ranger with the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), a historic organization founded in 1877 to combat cattle theft and agricultural crimes. As a Special Ranger, Bart was commissioned by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to operate statewide, with a primary focus on northeast Oklahoma. In 2021, he was promoted to Region 3 Supervisor, overseeing all TSCRA rangers operating in Oklahoma. Special rangers must maintain training and certification in both Oklahoma and Texas to handle statewide investigations.
Throughout his 27-year career, Bart has gained extensive experience in handling a wide range of cases, from property crimes to homicides. His advanced training includes crime scene investigation, death scene analysis, drug interdiction, interview and interrogation techniques, and instructor development. With over 1,300 hours of CLEET-certified training, Bart holds an advanced police officer certification from the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement and Training. His leadership, supervisory experience, and lifelong commitment to Osage County equip him to serve as a dedicated and effective Sheriff for its citizens.