Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader is proud to announce three administrative promotions within the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. The promotions include Investigator Shandalynn Rhame to captain, Lt. John Wayne Bennett to captain, and Investigator James R. McQueen to lieutenant.
Capt. Shandalynn Rhame — Administration
Capt. Shandalynn Rhame began her career with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in November 2005 as a dispatcher. Throughout her career, she has served in nearly every administrative division within the agency, gaining extensive knowledge of its operations.
Determined to further her career in law enforcement, Rhame stepped down from her position as dispatch supervisor to return to dispatch while attending the police academy. After graduating in May 2014, she became a patrol deputy. Her dedication and professionalism led to her promotion to the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) in April 2019, where she has served as an investigator handling complex criminal cases.
With more than 20 years of service, Captain Rhame brings extensive institutional knowledge, operational experience, and an unwavering commitment to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
Capt. John Wayne Bennett — Criminal Investigations Division
Capt. John Wayne Bennett has served the citizens of Liberty County for more than a decade in a variety of roles within the sheriff’s office.
He joined the agency as a Reserve Deputy in January 2012 before accepting a full-time position with the Narcotics Division in January 2013. Bennett later served in patrol, where his leadership and work ethic earned him promotions to corporal and sergeant.
In 2019, Bennett was promoted to investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division, continuing to build an impressive record of service. In 2024, he was promoted to lieutenant over CID, where he demonstrated strong leadership and investigative oversight.
His experience in narcotics, patrol, and criminal investigations has prepared him well for his new role as Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division.
Lieutenant James R. McQueen — Criminal Investigations Division
Lt. James R. McQueen began his career with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office in November 2009 as a dispatcher. In September 2012, he became a reserve deputy while continuing his dispatch duties, gaining valuable field experience.
In March 2013, McQueen transitioned to a full-time patrol deputy position. His performance and investigative abilities earned him a promotion to the Criminal Investigations Division as an investigator in March 2017.
Now promoted to lieutenant, McQueen brings more than 16 years of diverse law enforcement experience to his leadership role. His progression from dispatcher to patrol deputy, investigator, and now lieutenant reflects his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving Liberty County.
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere congratulations to Capt. Rhame, Capt. Bennett, and Lt. McQueen on their well-deserved promotions.
Each has earned the respect of fellow officers, the confidence of agency leadership, and the trust of the citizens they serve. Their promotions strengthen the Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing commitment to professionalism, integrity, and dedicated public service.