Nebraska Jail Standards Excellence in Detention Facility Administration Awarded to David Scheideler Sheriff and Ashley Spanel, Jail Manager – Valley County Jail 2025
Valley County built the current Courthouse in 1920 in Ord, Nebraska and they opened the current jail addition in 197 4. The jail has a capacity of ten inmates and Valley County currently holds its own inmates and holds for Garfield, Loup, Wheeler, Sherman, Howard and Greeley Counties. The jail regularly operates at capacity but despite the lack of available space this organization has overcome some serious problems and in the last few years, under the leadership of Sheriff Dave Scheideler and Office Manager Ashley Spanel, they have completed a renovation of their facility, and they have cleaned up an operation that had some issues.
Sheriff Dave Scheideler has brought extensive law enforcement experience to this Department, having started his career with the Nebraska State Patrol. Following his retirement from the State Patrol, he joined the Valley County Sheriff’s Office in September 2018 as Chief Deputy. In April 2024, he was appointed Sheriff by the Valley County Board of Supervisors.
Ashley Spanel began her career with the Valley County Sheriff’s Office in January 2019 as a Corrections/Dispatcher. Through her dedication and strong work ethic, she advanced into the role of Office Manager in approximately 2020, where she also assisted in overseeing daily jail operations.
In December 2023, Ashley stepped away from her position and began working with the Loup County Sheriff’s Office. Her commitment and value to the organization were evident when she was invited to return in June 2024 by Sheriff Dave Scheideler in a part-time capacity, while she continued to also serve with the Loup County Sheriff’s Office.
Since returning to the Sheriff’s Office, Ashley, alongside Sheriff Scheideler and the entire team, has played a key role in driving significant improvements within the jail facility. These advancements include the implementation of a new lockdown system to efficiently manage inmate accounts, bonds, and commissary operations, as well as securing a grant for a Live Scan fingerprinting machine through the Nebraska State Patrol.
In addition, Ashley, Sheriff Scheideler and the team have worked diligently to update and enforce policies and procedures to improve the overall efficiency and operation of the jail, and they have placed a renewed emphasis on assuring all staff are well trained.
Ashley and Sheriff Scheideler have also worked collaboratively with Jail Standards, the Nebraska State Patrol, and Justice Data Solutions to ensure policies and daily operations remain current, compliant, and effective. These efforts have strengthened the overall functionality and professionalism of the department.
Ashley and Sheriff Scheideler emphasize that these accomplishments are the result of a strong, unified team effort. Together, they continue to look ahead, exploring opportunities such as introducing inmate tablets to expand access to resources while optimizing facility space, as well as the potential development of a new jail to better serve the community. Valley County just completed a needs assessment and is looking into the possibility of building a new jail facility that will better serve the community.
Ashley and Sheriff Scheideler remain committed to supporting the mission of the Valley County Sheriff’s Office and contributing to its continued growth and success. For their efforts in cleaning up this facility, in better managing the daily operations, and in looking ahead and starting the process of planning for the future needs of their community, the Jail Standards Board is proud to present the award for “Excellence in Detention Facility Administration” to Sheriff David Scheideler and Office Manager Ashley Spanel of the Valley County Sheriff’s Department.