Sheriff Cook grew up on a small family dairy farm in Burke, NY graduating from Chateaugay Central School in 1986.  Upon graduation he began his service in the USAF stationed at Little Rock AFB in Arkansas.  He later served three years in the Air National Guard in Vermont.  While serving in Vermont he attained his associate’s degree in criminal justice from North Country Community College.

In 1990 Sheriff Cook entered the NYS Corrections Academy serving four years as an officer at Green Haven Correctional facility in Stormville, NY.  In April of 1994 he entered the NYSP Academy and was a Trooper in Malone, NY and attained the rank of Sergeant in 2001 serving for twenty- four years.

Sheriff Cook retired from the NYSP in May of 2018 then serving as a Special Patrol Officer at Chateaugay Central School for four years until he was elected sheriff in November of 2022.