(ANGOLA) - The Steuben County Sheriff's Office honored and celebrated the retirement of Sergeant Jeff Vanette on July 1.
Vanette's retirement follows a career spanning nearly 30 years with the Sheriff's Office. He first worked as a confinement officer in the Steuben County Jail from 1994 to 1996 before taking a job as a park ranger with the Indianapolis Parks Department Police. He served two years in that role before returning to the Steuben County Sheriff's Office as a merit deputy in 1998.
In 1999, Vanette joined the Steuben County Sheriff's Special Response Tactical Team as a tactical operator. In 2001, he was trained and certified as a law enforcement sniper for the SRT Team. He remained active on the team for 27 years, making him the longest-serving member in the team's history.
Vanette also served as a SCUBA diver on the Steuben County Underwater Rescue and Recovery Team from 2001 to 2012. He was a K-9 handler from 2000 to 2009, serving with his partner Bam.
In 2002, Vanette was named Indiana's Deputy of the Year for his efforts at Loon Lake, where two people had fallen through the ice. His efforts made it possible to recover one of the two victims that day.
Vanette was promoted to the rank of sergeant on February 8, 2011.
The retirement celebration was held at the Sheriff's Office with numerous family members, friends and colleagues in attendance.