Ron Montgomery now leads the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office – The Virginian-Pilot

YORK — After 48 years in the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office, Ron Montgomery is the sheriff and plans to continue the “special relationship” the department has had with the citizens of York and Poquoson.

Montgomery took office Jan. 1 after taking the reins from J.D. “Danny” Diggs, who retired and is running for a seat in the Virginia senate.

“It just pleases me to turn this over to you,” Diggs told him when he turned over the sheriff’s badge to Montgomery when he was sworn in.

Montgomery, 68, worked for 22 years as chief deputy. He joined the sheriff’s office in 1975.

“I’m not going to fix what is not broken,” Montgomery said in a recent interview. “I’m going to take what we have and do it better. Our core relationship is with the community — that special relationship where people are important.”

Through the years, Montgomery said, he asked new deputies every once in a while: “What did you do to make York County or Poquoson better today?”

Montgomery said unequivocally that “the many small things we can do is really is the important thing in our relationship. It’s important that we all remember that.”

A strong community supporter, Montgomery has coached middle school football and baseball in York and was head basketball coach for two years at Bruton High School. Additionally, he is a member of the county’s Chamber of Commerce and on its board of directors.

Raised in York County, Montgomery is a graduate of York High School and lives in the Bruton area of the county. Initially, he attended North Carolina State University on a football scholarship, but a back injury ended his gridiron career. Later, he graduated from St. Leo University with a degree in criminology while also taking criminal justice courses at Thomas Nelson (now Virginia Peninsula) Community College.

Montgomery said he came by his career naturally. “My father was a police officer in the city of Williamsburg, and as a kid, I grew up around all those officers. That introduced me to law enforcement.”

When former Williamsburg police officer Darrell Warren began working for the York sheriff’s office when Montgomery was in his first year of college, “he asked me what my plans were and suggested that I ride with him,” Montgomery remembered.

“I did, and that’s what really sparked my interest.”

Montgomery has spent his entire law enforcement career in York County — initially as a patrol deputy and later becoming a major crimes investigator. He eventually was named commander of the major crimes division.

He and Diggs began working together about 1983 when he was Diggs’ boss. Diggs later ran for and was elected sheriff, taking office in 2000. Montgomery then became chief deputy. When asked about Montgomery being sheriff, Diggs said he “couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

The sheriff’s office has 112 sworn officers. Montgomery’s first hire, however, was of the four-legged variety — a bloodhound puppy named Sarge.

Sarge was born in November and joined the K9 unit to begin training a few weeks ago. When he’s older, he’ll be used for search and rescue.

The sheriff’s office is the principal law enforcement department for York County, unlike some counties, such as James City County, that have police and sheriff’s departments, with the sheriff’s office handling requirements of the courts.

“I believe the sheriff’s office is outstanding,” Montgomery said. “The unique thing … is that we’re responsible to the citizens. The quality of our work is known by our citizens — that’s who our boss is. Every four years, we’re accountable to the citizens.

“I would not trade that. We answer to citizens, and that’s what makes our agency so successful.”

Montgomery’s appointment will fill the rest of Diggs’ term through November. He said his intent is to run for sheriff.

Wilford Kale, kalehouse@aol.com