Sheriff Steve Kempker
Address: 12220 Fillmore St. West Olive, MI 49460
Telephone: 616-738-4000
Website: http://www.miottawa.org/sheriff/
Sheriff Kempker began his law enforcement career working as a Cadet and Reserve Officer in the City of Holland in 1980. While still a member of Holland Police Department, he began his career with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office working as a Reserve Deputy in the Marine Unit.
Steve became a full-time Road Patrol Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office in October 1989. He worked as a member of the Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Unit from 1989 through early 1996 and was assigned to a variety of different patrol areas throughout the county and served as a Field Training Officer.
In 1996 Steve was promoted to Road Patrol Sergeant and was assigned to countywide road patrol supervision. In late 1999 he was given the assignment of Sergeant of the Traffic Services Unit, which included traffic accident reconstruction and supervision of the Traffic Services Unit.
In 2002 Steve was promoted to the rank of Operations and Services Lieutenant within the Law Enforcement Division of the department with countywide law enforcement responsibility. In January 2005 he became the Administrative Lieutenant with the department. In January of 2014, he was appointed to the rank of Captain within the department. In 2015 he was appointed to the position of Undersheriff. In November of 2016 he was elected as Sheriff of Ottawa County and re-elected in November of 2020.
Sheriff Kempker has been a part of many law enforcement related organizations throughout his career, which include: Michigan Association of Traffic Accident Investigators, Office of Highway Safety Planning, Grand Valley State University Police Academy Advisory Board, Grand Rapids Community College Police Academy Advisory Board, Co-Chair of ALPACT, Vice Chair of West Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium, Ottawa County Mental Health Law Enforcement Committee and various 911 committees and other local and state committees. He has also instructed for Grand Valley State University Police Academy and also the West Michigan Criminal Justice Training Consortium. In 2017 Steve was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder and Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the Mental Health Diversion Council which he currently serves on. Sheriff Kempker also serves on the Executive Board of HIDTA.
Steve is a graduate of Muskegon Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Police Academy, Michigan State University Accident Reconstruction, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Northwestern University Executive Management, Southern Police Institute Program, National Sheriff’s Institute and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management and Incident Command Training. He has attended countless professional training seminars along with certification courses over the years.
