SHERBURNE – After 42 years as an officer of the law, Village of Sherburne Police Chief William Excell has retired.
Excell wrapped up a 22-year tenure as chief on July 19, and village Mayor William Acee said his presence as a guardian and a mentor in the community will be deeply missed.
“Bill was a great small-town chief,” said Acee. “He did an excellent job for the village and he was excellent for all the kids growing up in Sherburne – I will miss him terribly.”
Excell said he looks back on his 24 years in Sherburne, including two he spent as an officer, and sees a career that was bolstered by a great relationship with the village and its citizens.
“The village was good to me,” Excell said, acknowledging local officials and residents. “I enjoyed working with them all.”
Excell said that his brightest accomplishments have come in the form of the youth and young adults that he helped mentor, and watched evolve into great leaders. He listed City of Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino, Chenango County Sheriff Thomas Loughren, Joseph Peptis, a retired senior investigator with the New York State Troopers, and new Sherburne Police Chief Jim Fox, as a few notable individuals.
“The fact that many of them made something of themselves,” he said. “I’m quite proud of that.”
“Bill was a fantastic police officer and he’s a fantastic guy,” said Peptis, who after 30 years on the job claims that Excell is the best criminal interviewer he’s ever seen. “He made my career, getting me into the field and helping me improve myself through the ranks.” Peptis said Excell got him into the Earlville Police Department in 1972, when he was fresh out of the military and unsure of his future. “I owe all my success to working with Bill.”
Excell remembered as a child that it was an influential law enforcement official, then Earlville Police Chief Walter Bemis, whose leadership guided him toward his calling in the same field. “I think that is what got me into it,” Excell said.
He also acknowledged former Sheriff Joseph Benenati and investigator Jerry McEligot as the role models who helped shape his outlook on police work during his 18 year stint with the Sheriff’s Department, where he rose to the position of captain.
Fox, a veteran of the sheriff’s department and the New York State Police, said he hopes to build on Excell’s legacy as his replacement. “I have always admired Chief Excell,” said Fox, who is a native of Smyrna and graduate of Sherburne-Earlville High School. “He is one of the most knowledgeable law enforcement officers in the area – he did a good job for the county and the village,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll do as good a job as Bill did.”
Fox has the former chief’s full endorsement. “I recommended Jim highly,” said Excell. “He’s a good boy with a level head, a world of experience, and he’s well thought of in the community.”
Acee is also confident about Fox in his new role.
“Jim Fox will ease the transition,” Acee said. “I look forward to Jim being a great police chief and continuing Bill’s good work.”
Excell said that he is going to enjoy his retirement spending time with his grandchildren, fishing, and working at his wife Rebecca’s redemption center in Sherburne.