byork

Sheriff Paul D. Byork

1977-1982

Paul Byork was thrust into the position of Sheriff when Richard Kise made the decision not to run again. Sheriff Byork loved law enforcement but not the politics that go with the elected Office of Sheriff. Sheriff Byork was offered the place on the ticket as the Republican candidate but declined the offer. The Sheriff had philosophical differences with the next choice of candidate, even though he was friends with him and had worked with him for the previous ten years. Reconsidering his previous decision not to run, Sheriff Byork was approached by the Democrats to run as their candidate. Wayne County is a predominantley Republican County but after a long hard fought battle, the newly registered Democrat became the first Democrat to ever be elected to a county level position in the county.

A former Pharmacists Mate, the Sheriff won many awards while serving in the Navy. He was credited with saving the life of a fellow crewman by performing an emergecy appendectomy while at the bottom of the ocean in a WWII submarine, the most unlikely place for a 6'3" man to be serving. His military background carried through to the way the man conducted his every day affairs, directing the Sheriff's Office with a firm hand. The Sheriff retired from the Navy and was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff on January 1, 1961.

As a partner for the previous Sheriff, Richard Kise, the two men as investigators and Deputy Sheriffs were next to unstoppable in solving Wayne County crimes. Anyone who worked for the "Big Swede" knew that everything was okay but that things were about to heat up when he would lean back in his chair, remove his glasses, and bite down on the bow while focusing his eyes on yours. Somehow he had a way about him that without saying anything to you, made you want to confess. Things were

Sheriff Byork is sworn in by Supreme County Judge Reginald Oliver

When interviewed by the newspaper on the occasion of his retirement, Sheriff Byork had this to say about an incident in Sodus in the early 60's.

When the event was over, a bus was comandeered and filled with arrestees, all bound for jail, with a single Deputy Wiliam Benedict, onboard for security.

Finger Lakes Times 10-31-1979

Byork, in contrast to his opponent Edward Williams, said he has not sought any political endorsements.

"Truthfully, I feel that the office of sheriff is too important to let politics enter into it," Byork said. "Secondly, there is the possibility of getting into some political debts, and I don't want to get into that. I think we'll let the people decide."

Finger Lakes Times 1/3/1978

When asked about retirement plans.......

Byork said he doesn't have any specific plans for the future. "I'll go home and tend to the fireplace and

the dog," he said Friday before a reception for Pisciotti and Oaks. "Maybe I'll spend a little more time

reading the newspaper Maybe II I have an extra cup of coffee in the morning."

Sheriff Byork is buried in a modest plot in a very small cemetary in Keuka Park, NY, behind Keuka College.

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	Sheriff Paul D. Byork 1977-1982

Paul Byork was thrust into the position of Sheriff when Richard Kise made the decision not to run again. Sheriff Byork loved law enforcement but not the politics that go with the elected Office of Sheriff. Sheriff Byork was offered the place on the ticket as the Republican candidate but declined the offer. The Sheriff had philosophical differences with the next choice of candidate, even though he was friends with him and had worked with him for the previous ten years. Reconsidering his previous decision not to run, Sheriff Byork was approached by the Democrats to run as their candidate. Wayne County is a predominantley Republican County but after a long hard fought battle, the newly registered Democrat became the first Democrat to ever be elected to a county level position in the county. A former Pharmacists Mate, the Sheriff won many awards while serving in the Navy. He was credited with saving the life of a fellow crewman by performing an emergecy appendectomy while at the bottom of the ocean in a WWII submarine, the most unlikely place for a 6'3" man to be serving. His military background carried through to the way the man conducted his every day affairs, directing the Sheriff's Office with a firm hand. The Sheriff retired from the Navy and was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff on January 1, 1961. As a partner for the previous Sheriff, Richard Kise, the two men as investigators and Deputy Sheriffs were next to unstoppable in solving Wayne County crimes. Anyone who worked for the "Big Swede" knew that everything was okay but that things were about to heat up when he would lean back in his chair, remove his glasses, and bite down on the bow while focusing his eyes on yours. Somehow he had a way about him that without saying anything to you, made you want to confess. Things were

	Sheriff Byork is sworn in by Supreme County Judge Reginald Oliver


	When interviewed by the newspaper on the occasion of his retirement, Sheriff Byork had this to say about an incident in Sodus in the early 60's. When the event was over, a bus was comandeered and filled with arrestees, all bound for jail, with a single Deputy Wiliam Benedict, onboard for security.
	Finger Lakes Times 10-31-1979 Byork, in contrast to his opponent Edward Williams, said he has not sought any political endorsements. "Truthfully, I feel that the office of sheriff is too important to let politics enter into it," Byork said. "Secondly, there is the possibility of getting into some political debts, and I don't want to get into that. I think we'll let the people decide."
	Finger Lakes Times 1/3/1978
	When asked about retirement plans....... Byork said he doesn't have any specific plans for the future. "I'll go home and tend to the fireplace and the dog," he said Friday before a reception for Pisciotti and Oaks. "Maybe I'll spend a little more time reading the newspaper Maybe II I have an extra cup of coffee in the morning."

	Sheriff Byork is buried in a modest plot in a very small cemetary in Keuka Park, NY, behind Keuka College.