About sheriff tom reich
GROWING UP
Sheriff Reich has been a lifelong Michigan resident. Tom grew up on a farm and graduated in 1973 from Holt High School in Holt, Michigan and continued his education having received an Associates Degree from Lansing Community College in Lansing Michigan. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Seminar and the National Sheriffs Institute.
FAMILY
Tom has five grown children and currently resides in Eaton Rapids, Michigan with his wife Michele.
A note from Michele Reich:
"Tom is a wonderfully caring husband, father, and grandfather. He has worked for 37 years in law enforcement working his way up the ranks. Tom is committed to making sure Eaton County has a modern professional Sheriff's Office. Tom is an outstanding Sheriff because he is a man of character. I see how hard Tom works providing leadership as our Sheriff and how much he cares about his deputies. He truly wants to make sure our grandkids grow up in a safe community."
EXPERIENCE
Sheriff Thomas Reich was elected and took office as Sheriff of Eaton County in January of 2013 and was selected as the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association Sheriff of the Year in 2019. He was reelected to a third term in November 2020.
Sheriff Reich is responsible for the operations and personnel of the Eaton County Sheriff’s Office which employs approximately 146 employees, a corrections facility which houses up to 374 inmates, a road patrol which includes Delta Charter Township contractual police services which is the southwest part of Lansing, security to the Eaton County Courthouse and Youth Facility, and contractual services with Windsor Township, performs part-time contractual services to Oneida Township, as well as the additional 14 townships of Eaton County and the Animal Control Division. The Sheriff’s Office contracts with Maple Valley Schools to provide them with a School Resource Officer and also for Waverly Schools where this position is grant-funded. The operating budget for the Sheriff’s Office is approximately $15,500,000.
Since taking the Office of Sheriff, Tom was appointed to the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center for Homeland Security Advisory Council by Governor Snyder and was reappointed to a second term by Governor Whitmer, previously appointed to the State of Michigan Drug Treatment Court Committee, appointed to the Mid- Michigan Housing Authority Board and the Suicide Prevention Commission. Sheriff Reich serves on the Eaton County Veterans Court Board, Eaton County Adult Drug Court, Eaton County Community Corrections Board, Board of Lansing Area Safety Council, Board of the Eaton County Siren Shelter, and the Delta Township Government Affairs.
LAW ENFORCEMENT HISTORY
Tom's law enforcement career also encompasses twenty-five years at the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office where he was employed in the areas of patrol, Detective Bureau, Corrections, Community Services, school safety programs, traffic division and was assigned to the Tri-County Metro Narcotics Team which was based out of Lansing, Michigan. Sheriff Reich, while employed at Ingham County, served at the ranks of Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant and retired at the rank of Detective Lieutenant, Commander of the Detective Bureau. During his career at Ingham County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Reich received several commendations and awards for his professional service to the citizens of Ingham County.
After his retirement from Ingham County Tom was employed by the State of Michigan, Bureau of State Lottery, Charitable Gaming Division from 1999-2012. Tom’s position was the Gaming Director and he was responsible for the regulatory enforcement of the Gaming Act, oversaw a $200 million gaming program, managed six staff members, and qualified and licensed over 20,000 organizations.