Chemung County Sheriff’s Lieutenant gets retirement sendoff after 25 years

ELMIRA, N.Y. ( WETM ) — It was a bitter-sweet day for deputies in the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office as one lieutenant was given a final sendoff Thursday afternoon.

Deputies from the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Elmira Police Department saluted the service of now-retired Lieutenant Peter A. Ruhmel.

Ruhmel started with the sheriff’s office in 1999 as a deputy sheriff before rising through the ranks and reaching the rank of Lieutenant of the Criminal Investigation Division.

At 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, a final call came over the radio, commending Ruhmel for his service and congratulating him on his retirement. After the call, a sergeant with the sheriff’s office called the standing police to attention, saluting Ruhmel as he walked toward his family.

At the end of the line, Ruhmel’s family greeted him, and after several hugs, Ruhmel went back and shook hands with every officer and deputy that sent him off.

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