Yates Sheriff Spike to retire at year-end

YATES COUNTY--Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike has announced he will retire at the end of his eighth four-year term, Dec. 31, 2023. Spike is currently the senior sheriff in New York state with over 50 years of experience.
Spike grew up living in the Sheriff's residence, attached to the old 1904 county jail as his father George was also the Yates County Sheriff from 1958 to 1981. After attending and graduating from Monroe Community College in 1970, he was hired as a deputy sheriff and did road and marine patrol. After working through the ranks of criminal investigator and chief deputy sheriff, he was elected to the top law enforcement position in January of 1992.
"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Yates County as their sheriff," said Spike in an email last week. "I have been a law enforcement officer with the sheriff's office for fifty-two years now, with thirty-one years as the elected sheriff. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had for public service, and to lead an agency where the well-trained good men and women that work there past and present, 24x7 have been my best assets for providing public safety services. It has been a pleasure to work alongside such a talented team in the sheriff's office, and in county government."
Spike has been honored and continues involvement with several local, regional and national organizations to improve policing. In 1981 he was named the New York State Sheriffs' Association's Deputy Sheriff of the Year for saving a life in a house fire. He would go on to serve as the president of the association in 2000 and is a life-member. He also represents the NYSSA on the ethics/training and court security committees at the National Sheriffs' Association and is appointed as the Chairman of the New York State Municipal Police Training Council since 1997.
"I am proud that our office has achieved and maintained professional accreditation status in five areas that include county police services, county jail operations, county 9-1-1 dispatch, court security, and the civil division," added Spike. "I have strived to be dedicated to public safety through leadership, accountability, staff training, and valued community partnerships in service to our county residents and visitors."