Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict recently announced the addition of two new sheriff’s deputies to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Michael Leiter was a deputy with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, who after a short field training period, was released from training to work patrol on the east end of Clallam County.

Deputy Benjamin Tomco was sworn in on Feb. 17 and is just beginning his career in law enforcement.

Tomco was slated to start Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien on Feb. 24. The rigorous, 720-hour Basic Academy curriculum is designed to provide recruit officers with the basic knowledge and skills necessary for safe, proper and effective law enforcement service, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.

Following Tomco’s graduation from the academy, he will enter field training that consists of three-and-a-half months of training with certified field training officers from the sheriff’s office. Once Tomco successfully completes the basic academy and his field training, he will be assigned to work in the Sheriff’s Office Forks detachment on the west end of the county.