The sheriff of upstate New York’s fastest-growing county said he’s made the difficult decision to not seek re-election.

Saratoga County Sheriff Mike Zurlo told NewsChannel 13’s Mark Mulholland that he informed his deputies on Thursday that he will not seek another term at the end of this year.

Zurlo, who is 70, has served three four-year-terms as sheriff. Before that, he was a highly-respected investigator. He has served in law enforcement for 48 years.

In a letter to the chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff Zurlo endorsed Undersheriff Jeff Brown to succeed him.

Zurlo called the sheriff’s job “the best job of his life.”