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Sheriff Kim Cole
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office and Mason County Board of Commissioners will host a public open house Friday, Oct. 16, to honor retiring Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole.
The event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in the conference room at Mason County Airport. The public is invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served.
Cole, 62, formally announced his retirement in September after more than 41 years with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. His last day as sheriff will be Friday, Oct. 30.
Cole began his law enforcement career Jan. 1, 1985, as a member of the Mason County Sheriff’s Reserves. He was hired as a marine patrol deputy June 20, 1985, and became a road patrol deputy Sept. 19, 1985.
During his career, Cole served in several capacities within the sheriff’s office, including road patrol, corrections, marine patrol, dispatch and the department’s tactical team. He also served as the department’s DARE officer and held the ranks of deputy, sergeant and undersheriff.
Cole was first elected sheriff in November 2012 and took office in January 2013. He was re-elected three times, most recently in November 2024.
A fifth-generation Mason County native and 1982 graduate of Ludington High School, Cole followed a family tradition in law enforcement. His great-great-grandfather, Henry C. Cole, served as Mason County sheriff from 1899 to 1902.
During Cole’s administration, the sheriff’s office added three School Resource Deputies, upgraded its marine patrol boats, strengthened its dive team and Emergency Response Team, added a K-9 to the corrections staff, increased road patrol staffing by four deputies and established a drone program.
In his retirement letter to the Mason County Board of Commissioners, Cole expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the county.
“Having been given the chance to serve as a member of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office for over 41 years has been the greatest honor,” Cole wrote.
Cole said his decision to retire will allow him to spend more time with his family, including his wife, Gina, their two adult children, Drew and Kasey, and four grandchildren. However, he is currently running as the GOP nominee for Michigan’s 32nd Senate District, currently held by retiring sentator John Bumstead, a Republican.
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