The administration of the Preble County Sheriff’s office is commanded by Chief Deputy Mike Spitler, who reports directly to Sheriff Simpson. Under Chief Spitler, several command officers carry out the administrative functions of the Sheriff’s Office.

Feel free to contact any of these officers with any questions or comments you may have. Just click on any picture to send an email.

Sheriff Michael Simpson

Sheriff Simpson began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a Corrections Officer/Dispatcher in July, 1988. He served in that capacity until December, 1990 when he was promoted to Deputy Sheriff assigned to road patrol. In January, 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Captain by Sheriff Hayes, serving as a road patrol supervisor. On July 5, 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Chief Deputy, serving as second in command under Sheriff Hayes.

On December 3, 2003, he was appointed Sheriff of Preble County after the unexpected death of Sheriff Thomas Hayes. Sheriff Simpson was elected to his first full term as Sheriff in November, 2004. Sheriff Simpson is currently in his 22^nd year of service with this office.

Sheriff Simpson has attended numerous law enforcement training classes throughout his career, including the Evidence Technician Course at the Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab, Technical Crash Investigations at the Ohio Highway Patrol Academy, and several management courses offered through the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Academy.

Sheriff Simpson is a graduate of the 141^st Class of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in 2000, and the 217^th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 2004, and the National Sheriff’s Institute in Longmont, Colorado in 2005. Simpson has maintained his Certified Law Enforcement Manager’s certificate from the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association since 2004. He is also an active member of the Floyd E. Spitler Lodge of the F.O.P., and a Rotarian with the Eaton Rotary Club. Sheriff Simpson is one of two Directors in the southwest district of the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association. He also serves on several volunteer boards throughout the county.

Sheriff Simpson is a 1985 graduate of Eaton High School and the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School’s Law Enforcement Program. He lives near Camden with wife Dawna and daughter McKenna.

Chief Deputy Mike Spitler

Michael Spitler graduated from Twin Valley South High School in West Alexandria, Ohio in 1991. He attended the University of Akron and graduated with the Highest Distinction in his class with an Associates of Applied Science in Criminal Justice Technology in 1993. Spitler was initiated into the University of Akron Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society in 1992.

Chief Deputy Spitler began his career with the Preble County Sheriff’s Office in August of 1993 as one of the department’s new dispatchers hired along with the implementation of 911 in Preble County. Spitler later transferred into the Corrections division and was later promoted to Sergeant on the jail division. Spitler attended the Montgomery County Basic Correctional Academy in 1994 and received the level III Corrections Training Program certification through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council. From September 1993 until May 1994 Spitler attended the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School Police Academy and received his Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Certificate. Upon graduation from the academy Spitler received an award for academics and the peer award for professionalism.

Spitler was a member of the Preble County Special Deputies organization until April of 1996 when he was promoted to the road division as a full time road deputy. Spitler later transferred to the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division and later transferred back to the patrol division. In February of 2004 Spitler was promoted to the rank of Captain, and in April 2010 he was promoted to the position of Chief Deputy.

Chief Deputy Spitler has been a member of the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit and the Sheriff’s Office dive Recovery Team. Spitler is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Floyd E. Spitler Lodge#158.

Spitler has attended numerous advanced trainings throughout his career including certification through the Miami Valley Regional Crime Laboratory as an Evidence Technician, Advanced Homicide Investigation, Reid School of Interview and Interrogation and he has recently graduated the School of Police Staff and Command through Northwestern University in March 2006.

Major Joe Renner

Major Renner began his career with the Preble County Sheriff’s Office in August of 1981 as a dispatcher / jailer. In 1985 he was promoted to road patrol, where he remained until his promotion to Captain in January of 2005. He was then promoted to the rank of Major on September 1, 2011.

On April 1, 2010, Major Renner was appointed to the position of Jail Administrator. In that capacity, he is responsible for the day to day operations of the jail, as well as the security detail at the Preble County Courthouse.

While a patrol deputy, Major Renner served as a team leader on the Emergency Services Unit, and as ground support on the Dive Recovery Team.

Prior to his appointment as a patrol deputy, Major Renner worked for the Gratis Police Department as both a patrolman and Chief of Police. Captain Renner also worked for both the Camden and Lewisburg Police Departments as a patrolman, and also served a short stint as acting Chief of Police for the Village of Camden.

Major Renner has also been an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police, serving in several capacities, including local lodge president and secretary / treasurer.

A 1981 graduate of Eaton High School and the Montgomery County Joint Vocational School’s Law Enforcement Program, and a 2007 graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. Major Renner served as a member of Eaton City Council for 10 years and currently is a member of the Eaton Community Schools Board of Education. He also serves as the Deputy Director for the southwest district of the Buckeye State Sheriff's Association.

Major Renner lives in Eaton with his wife, Elaine, and children Kellie, Alan and Brandon

Captain Dean Miller

Captain Miller began his career with the Preble County Sheriff’s Office in May, 1995 as a Special Deputy, after graduating the Miami Township Police Academy in that same year. He served as a Special Deputy until he was assigned to the Road Patrol as a Part-time Deputy Sheriff in September of 1997. Captain Miller was later assigned to the Road Patrol as a full-time Deputy Sheriff in March of 1998. After serving in that capacity for five years, Captain Miller was assigned to the Detective Division under the administration of Sheriff Thomas Hayes. Captain Miller served as Detective for the next six years and was reassigned to the Road Patrol, after the Sheriff’s Office under went significant budget cuts. Captain Miller was then promoted to Captain on March 16, 2010.

Captain Miller has been involved in many major investigations during his tenure as Detective including homicide, narcotics, robbery, sex crimes, child abuse, identity thefts, any many other felony offenses.

During Captain Miller’s career, he has attended many specialized training course’s that include the Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab Evidence Technician, Clandestine Lab Investigators, Interview and Interrogation, Hostage Negotiations and Crisis Intervention, and many other courses and certifications offered through the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy. He has also completed courses in the management of Criminal Investigations.

Captain Miller has served on the Sheriff’s Office Dive & Recovery Team as ground support, the Clandestine Lab Team, and is currently one of two of the office’s Crisis and Hostage Negotiator’s.

Captain Miller is currently an active member of the local FOP Lodge, and has served as past president. He previously held the position of Fire Chief with the Gasper Township Fire Department, and has served on the West Elkton Village Council.

Captain Miller resides in the Eaton area with his wife Brenda, and is the father of three children, Cody, Brandon, and Brittany.