Sandusky native and lifelong Sanilac County resident Paul Rich is announcing his candidacy for the Office of Sheriff for Sanilac County.
Paul graduated from Sandusky High School before joining the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department as a Corrections Officer in the jail in 1988. While working as a Corrections Officer Paul attended and graduated from the Delta College Police Academy earning his Law Enforcement Officer Certifications.
Following completion of the academy he continued his duties as a Corrections Officer while simultaneously holding the position of Police Officer for the Sandusky Police Department and Carsonville Police Department in 1990.
In 1991 Paul was assigned to the State Police Narcotic Enforcement Concept Team as an investigator.
Following that assignment, he returned to the Sanilac County Sheriff Department whereupon he was assigned as an investigator on the Sanilac Drug Task Force before his eventual return to the Sheriff Department Uniform Division Road Patrol.
Paul was promoted to Sergeant in the Sheriff Department and in that supervisory position held assignments in the Road Patrol, Sanilac Drug Task Force Enforcement Unit, Marine Patrol Supervisor & Grant Coordinator, Special Response Team Supervisor, Secondary Road Patrol Supervisor & Grant Coordinator and assisted in the formation of the Sanilac Sheriff Aero Squadron.
Through Paul’s widely varied duties as a Sheriff Department supervisor he has gained a unique knowledge of local, State & Federal grant application processes as well as complex budgeting, scheduling and administrative experience necessary to successfully operate a 21st century Sheriff’s Office.
Paul retired from the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Department in 2017 after completing 29 years of service. Paul currently holds the position of Police Chief for the Peck Police Department, a position he has held for 20-years since 1999.
Paul is currently active in the Sandusky Community Schools’ Backpack Program and volunteers as a Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor.
He has instituted the Peck Community Schools’ School Liaison Program, the Peck Community Schools’ TEAM Program (Teaching, Educating, Mentoring) and in 2019 Paul was formally recognized as the Peck Community Schools Friend of Youth.
Paul is currently a member of the Michigan Police Chiefs Association, Sanilac Police Chiefs Association, holds the position of Chiefs Association Representative on the Sanilac DTF Board of Directors, a member of Michigan Gun Owners Association and he actively collaborates with multiple agencies at the local/State/Federal levels of law enforcement.
Paul currently holds certifications as a licensed Medical First Responder, Firearms Instructor, DNR certified instructor in Hunter Safety-ATV-Snowmobile-Marine Safety, Scuba Diving Assistant Instructor, Law Enforcement Field Training Officer/FTO and Field Training Office Supervisor.
Paul and Rochelle, his wife of 28 years, have four grown children with families of their own. They have owned and operated a small family farm for decades and are members of the Michigan Bee Association.
Paul Rich believes that his exhaustive list of experience in his ongoing 32 year law enforcement career makes him uniquely qualified to become Sanilac County’s next Sheriff.
He brings wide and varied experience in every facet of operations of the Sanilac County Sheriff’s Office – Corrections, Road Patrol, Drug Enforcement investigations, Road Patrol & DTF supervision as well as Sheriff Department budgeting and grant application and fulfillment.
Paul wants to continue the Sheriff’s Office successes, strengthening relationships in the community, and to continue working collaboratively with all local, County, State and Federal agencies.
As sheriff Paul will continue forging partnerships to make Sanilac County and the Sheriff’s Office the best that it can be in the 21st century.
