Hook promoted to Oneida County chief deputy

On Feb. 17, nine years after she was promoted to the rank of captain, Terri Hook of the Oneida County sheriff’s office was appointed chief deputy. She succeeds former chief deputy Dan Hess, who retired in January after a 33-year career in emergency management and law enforcement.

Hook has worked in law enforcement for 29 years this month, all in Oneida County, gaining experience in nearly every aspect of the sheriff’s office. 

In 1995, she started as a dispatcher. Nine months later, she was hired as one of the county’s first ever female corrections officers. Then, nine months after that, she became the first female patrol deputy for Oneida County. 

“As a patrol deputy, I served as a sexual assault and domestic violence advocate and a DARE officer,” she told The Lakeland Times.

After nine years as a patrol deputy, Hook was promoted to detective sergeant, a position she held for another nine years until she was named a lieutenant. 

Eventually, the title of lieutenant was changed to captain. 

Her new rank — chief deputy — puts her second-in-command, under only sheriff Grady Hartman, and is the highest unelected position a person can hold in a sheriff’s office.

This latest promotion represents the fulfillment of a goal Hook set when she began her career in law enforcement.

“I loved being a detective, but I always knew this is where I wanted to be in the end,” she said. “We have a strong senior leadership team and a team of first line supervisors, including sergeants and detective sergeants, who are committed to making the agency better. Under the direction of the sheriff with the assistance of these teams, my goal is to help our employees recognize their roles as leaders and help them develop the skills they need to be successful. 

Hook said every position within the sheriff’s office requires leadership, which she said in “the simplest of terms” means “influence.”

“Often our staff is part of someone’s worst day and their actions influence the public in a positive or negative way,” she noted. “Our telecommunicators speak with people during some of the most traumatizing times of their lives. Their ability to treat these people with compassion and kindness or at times to be the calming voice in a chaotic situation can change the outcome for the caller. Patrol deputies are called to scenes where they must take action that will influence the outcome of the situation and the lives of the victim, the suspect, and in the end the community. Whether it be an arrest, a mental health detention, or just talking someone through a difficult situation, their decisive leadership is vital. Corrections officers leadership skills are also important as they are working with inmates to ensure their safety. Our support staff’s organizational skills and attention to detail influences the outcome of all of our cases.”

Leadership, Hook said, is an important trait all employees of the sheriff’s office should develop because it will make them better “community servants” and, ultimately, make the county a safer place to live.

While Hook is not originally from Oneida County, she said it has become her home over the last 30 years. 

“I am very honored to be entrusted with this responsibility,” she said. “I am truly blessed to work for this agency and with this awesome group of people. Oneida County should be proud of the people they have serving them. I am proud to be one of them. I pray daily as I perform my duties that I will give my best to the staff and Oneida County.

There were many people and groups Hook thanked as she begins this next chapter in her career.

“Since I have been given the opportunity to speak publicly about my promotion, I would like to thank the Civil Service Commission, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors, and of course Sheriff Hartman for promoting me to this position. Sheriff Hartman and I have worked together for many years and I look forward to continuing to work with him in this new role.  I would like to thank retired Lt. Jim Wood, retired Lt. Phil Schmidt, retired executive director of Tri-County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shellie Holmes, and retired Dakota County captain Jodi Rolloff for their mentorship over the years. I would like to thank my longtime work partner Captain Tyler Young who has encouraged me over the last 29-plus years to continue to work towards this goal.  His friendship and counsel have been invaluable. I would be remiss if I did not thank my husband, Todd, for supporting me through the good and bad times of my law enforcement career over the last 11 plus years. I know the next chapter will be full of the same and I appreciate his ongoing patience.”

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].