Sprinkle will not seek re-election as Sheriff
Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle has decided to hang-up his holster. After almost 20 years on the job as the elected Sheriff of Botetourt County, Sprinkle has decided not to run for re-election. A 35-year career in law enforcement will come to an end after the November 2019 election.
Sprinkle has spent all of his years in Botetourt County beginning in 1984 except for four in the Salem Police Force. He is the second Sprinkle to be Sheriff following in his late father Norman’s footsteps who retired in 1991. Ronnie Sprinkle ran for the first time in 1999.
Known for a low crime rate and no foolishness, Sprinkle responded to the question, “What were the best things you accomplished in your tenure as Sheriff?” After a few minutes of thought, he responded.
“I believe I brought the Sheriff’s Department along to a better place. My hope is my successor will take it even further. Leaving something better than you found it is important. A progressive Sheriff’s Department is important now more than ever.”
“We built a public safety building after having a jail built to serve 35 inmates that often had over 110 inmates. I used to say when the inmates breathed at night the mortar in the building expanded. We were able with Craig County and Sen. Bo Trumbo at the time, to get funding for 50% reimbursement. We had gone from a dated, overcrowded jail to a state of the art public safety building.“
“We were accredited for the first time during the past 20 years, and have since been accredited 4 times and are just beginning the process for the 5th.”
“I am going to figure out my next step for the future. I hope whoever my successor will be is able to continue to move the department forward and improves on what has been accomplished.”
by Cathy Benson. Photo by Cathy Benson
