Kalamazoo County undersheriff announces retirement, transfer
KALAMAZOO, MI — Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James VanDyken will be retiring at the end of 2024.
The sheriff’s office announced VanDyken’s retirement in a press release on Monday, Sept. 23. VanDyken has been undersheriff since 2016 and has served the sheriff’s office since 1992, according to the release. The undersheriff position is second in command to the sheriff.
Prior to his retirement, VanDyken will be stepping down as undersheriff to return to his previous position as chief deputy of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Supervisors Association, the release said.
Current Chief Deputy Michelle Greenlee will be transitioning to the role as undersheriff starting Sept. 28.
“With over 32 years of dedicated service, we are grateful and appreciative of (VanDyken’s) commitment to Kalamazoo’s citizens and the Sheriff’s Office,” the release said.
VanDyken said the minimum retirement age at the sheriff’s office is 55 and he’ll be turning 55 on Thursday, Sept. 26. After retiring, VanDyken plans on spending more time with his children and grandchildren, he said.
Retiring as a chief deputy has better retirement benefits than retiring as undersheriff, VanDyken said.
“There’s no medical insurance for my spouse if I retire as the undersheriff,” VanDyken said. “It’s for personal reasons.”
In the meantime, VanDyken said he’ll be helping Greenlee transition into the undersheriff role.
Greenlee started working with the sheriff’s office in 1999.
Sheriff Richard Fuller, a Democrat, is running for reelection this fall against Republican James Charon.
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