The administration of the Preble County Sheriff’s office is commanded by Chief Deputy Terry Snowden, who reports directly to Sheriff Simpson. Under Chief Snowden, 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 19^th 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. 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 Terry Snowden

Chief Deputy Terry Snowden started at the Sheriff’s Office in August of 1979 as a Dispatcher and Corrections Officer. Chief Deputy Snowden attended the Ohio Peace Officer’s academy in 1983 at which time he worked part-time as a patrolman for the village of Camden while still working at the Sheriff’s Office. In June of 1984 he was promoted to the road patrol division as a Deputy Sheriff.

Chief Deputy Snowden in April of 1992 took the position of Police Chief for the Village of Camden; he also remained at the Sheriff’s Office as a Special Deputy. In February 1993 he returned to the Sheriff’s Office full time in the capacity of Detective, he remained in that position until January 1994 at which time he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Chief Deputy Snowden remained in that position until he was promoted to his current position in January of 2004.

Chief Deputy Snowden has attended numerous law enforcement related classes, which include the Reid School of Interview and Interrogation, Advanced Homicide Investigation, Certification as a Evidence Technician, Forfeiture Sanctions in drug cases, Regional drug Interdiction, Media Relations, Handwriting Identification, Evidence Room Management, along with other management related classes.

Chief Deputy Snowden is an active member of the Floyd E. Spitler Lodge 158 of the Fraternal Order of Police. He has served in the capacities of Vice President and President of the organization.

Chief Deputy Snowden and his wife Pamela live in Lakengren and have two children, Brent and Austin.

Captain Joe Renner

Captain 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.

While a patrol deputy, Captain 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, Captain 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.
Captain Renner has also been an active member of the Fraternal Order of Police, serving in several capacities, including local lodge president. He currently serves as secretary / treasurer of the Floyd E. Spitler Lodge #158.

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, Captain Renner lives in Eaton with his wife, Elaine, and children Kellie, Alan and Brandon. Captain Renner also served as a member of Eaton City Council for 10 years and currently is a member of the Eaton Community Schools Board of Education.

Captain 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.

Captain 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.

Captain 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.

Lieutenant Chris Smith

Lieutenant Smith began his career as a corrections officer in November, 1994, when Preble County opened the doors at its new jail. Lt. Smith served as a corrections officer until 1998, when he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

When Sheriff Simpson was appointed in late 2003, he decided to appoint a new a jail administrator. In March, 2004, then Sergeant Smith was promoted to the position of Jail Administrator with the rank of Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Smith has attended the corrections academy, first line supervision, The State of Ohio Jail Administrators Course, and most recently attended Administering Small Jails, hosted by the National Institute of Corrections in Longmont, Colorado. Lt. Smith is also a member of the Floyd E. Spitler F.O.P. Lodge.

Lieutenant Smith graduated in 1986 from National Trail High School, and attended Hocking College Ranger Services for two years. Lieutenant Smith also served four years with the United States Marine Corps from 1988 until 1992. He is a Desert Shield / Desert Storm veteran, and received an honorable discharge in 1992. He currently lives in the Eaton area, with his lovely wife K. Renea and 2 ½ year old son Trevor Wade.