Major Tony Dingess is a 1994 graduate of Whitley County High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science / Police Administration minor from Eastern Kentucky University. Tony has 22 years of experience in the Kentucky criminal justice system and was employed with the Kentucky Court of Justice / Administrative Office of the Courts as a Pretrial Service Officer from 1999-2003.  He enlisted in the Kentucky Army National Guard and later attended the United States Army Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Infantry Officer.  Tony is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi freedom.

Tony served as Kentucky State Police Trooper from 2003 until his retirement in August of 2021.  He has 8 years of Police supervisory experience and has held multiple sworn leadership positions within the Kentucky State Police, retiring as the Investigative Lieutenant (investigations supervisor), Training Coordinator, and Safe School Coordinator for Post 11 London.  During his supervisory tenure with KSP, Tony served as lead investigator for multiple response to resistance investigations, Officer Involved Shootings, and Internal Affair Investigations. Tony’s current role with the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office is as Chief Deputy, where he is responsible for administrative functions and general supervision of patrol, office, school resource, and court security personnel.