The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office is recognizing the retirement of Undersheriff John McNelis following a 38-year career in law enforcement.
Officials marked the occasion Thursday with a ceremonial “final walkout,” honoring McNelis’ decades of service and leadership in public safety.
McNelis began his career in 1988 as a correction officer with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office before serving briefly as a patrolman in the City of Hornell.
He went on to spend more than 20 years with the New York State Police, including time as a criminal investigator from 2001 until his retirement from the agency in 2011.
McNelis later served as a patrolman and school resource officer in the Village of Canisteo from 2014 to 2017, before being appointed undersheriff in Steuben County. He held that role from 2017 through 2026, helping lead the department and mentor younger deputies.
Following his retirement, McNelis plans to transition into the private sector, focusing on school security and threat assessment—an area officials say has long been a professional interest.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office thanked McNelis for his years of dedication, citing his leadership and commitment to the community.
Officials say his retirement marks the end of a distinguished career and the beginning of a new chapter focused on enhancing school safety.
