UPDATE: Captain Kenneth Ariola retires from Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said its official farewells to Captain Kenneth Ariola, at a retirement party Tuesday, May 1. Retiring from the position as Jail Administrator, Captain Ariola, ended his 14-year tenure with the department at a retirement party held in his honor, among family, friends, and colleagues.

In all, Captain Ariola’s career in law enforcement spanned 45 years. After a 4-year military tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corp, he joined the Department of Public Safety in 1968 in patrol, but transferred into the Narcotics during the mid-70s during the counter culture movement, working in Houston, then Austin (1981-91), and then Conroe (1991-96). From 1996-99, he lent his extensive experience in the narcotics division to Narcotics Special Training for Clandestine Labs.

The Captain’s career with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office began in 1999 as a detective, and within a year he was promoted to Lieutenant of the Special Investigations Unit. The Department demonstrated its commitment to promote from within, by promoting Ariola to Captain of law enforcement in 2004, followed by Jail Administrator the following year. One year later Captain Ariola took over as head of the Patrol Division, returning in 2009 to Jail Administrator following the retirement of his predecessor.

“The Sheriff’s Office is proud to have had someone of Captain Ariola’s caliber and work experience,” said Lt. Dan Norris, official spokesperson for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

Several hundred were in attendance to express their best regards to Captain Ariola. Assuming the position of County Jail Administrator is Captain Rand Henderson, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office patrol captain since 2009. His tenure with MCSO dates back to 1994, serving in such capacities as: patrol administration, and internal affairs. Captain Henderson has both a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University, and is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

.“Captain Ariola’s diversified career, and Captain Henderson’s experience, demonstrate the department’s desire to promote the best people qualified to do the job.”

“The Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County thank Captain Ariola for his years of service to the Department and the county,” said Lt. Norris. “The Sheriff’s Office and residents of the county wish him all the best because he deserves it.”