He liked the patrol beat but felt it was time to take that next step and become a detective.

On Jan. 1, Deputy Bobby Cannon, a 17-year veteran of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, will become Detective Bobby Cannon.

"It was a hard decision to make because I really love my job as a patrol deputy," said Cannon, who started with the department in 1989 as a reserve officer. "But I’m at a point where I need a new challenge, which is something I’m excited about, and I believe I will be able to add to the effectiveness of the bureau."

Cannon fills a position in the detectives bureau of the department that has been vacant since mid-2008. At that time, the bureau reassigned a detective to patrol duties in order to help newer deputies go through their required field training process.

Since then, the deputies have completed all aspects of their initial training and have established themselves as extremely capable law enforcement officers, according to Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict.

Cannon’s appointment will not affect the number of patrol deputies assigned to the field.

Cannon’s new duties, which are those of all the detectives in the bureau, will be investigations of homicides, other major crimes, serial crimes, many child abuse cases and other felony criminal cases that require the close attention that patrol staff are not able to provide due to their call loads.

Cannon joins two other detectives and one detective sergeant in the bureau.

Cannon brings his patrol experience, his time as a field training officer, experience from his time on the Sheriff’s Honor Guard Team and Marine Patrol Unit to the position. He also is very dedicated to his church, the Boy Scouts of America, the American Legion, Retired Reserves and more.

"I really love this area," said the Oklahoma native who now lives west of Port Angeles. "My wife is from here and I couldn’t see doing this anywhere else."