Road patrol sergeant picked as new Ottawa County undersheriff

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI – A road patrol sergeant will be the new undersheriff in Ottawa County, replacing the one stepping down in late February.

Sgt. Eric DeBoer, who began in the county sheriff’s office in 1999 as a reserve deputy, will replace outgoing Undersheriff Valerie Weiss after she retires on Feb. 28, according to an announcement from Ottawa County Sheriff Steve Kempker on Monday, Jan. 23.

DeBoer, who will take over on March 3, was a detective from for eight years when he was promoted in 2022 to Road Patrol Sergeant, officials said.

“Eric has been instrumental in many committees, project planning and implementation through the years at the Sheriff’s Office,” Kempker said in a statement. “Eric has demonstrated a strong understanding of the agency and its related responsibilities. Throughout Eric’s career with the agency, Eric has always displayed the talents, abilities, and skill level for this important leadership role.”

Weiss has served as Kempker’s undersheriff since 2017. Her boss announced her retirement on Jan. 17, thanking her for her “commitment to the position and hard work ethic.”

Read more: Ottawa County undersheriff to retire

DeBoer lives in Ottawa County, officials said. He holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Kalamazoo Community College, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Calvin University and a master’s in public administration from Grand Valley State University.