PORT ANGELES – There’s a new sheriff in town. Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King was sworn in yesterday by Judge Lauren Erickson, as Sheriff of Clallam County. Sheriff King was hired as a Clallam County Sheriff Patrol Deputy in August 2001, assigned to Detectives in 2006, promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2008 and promoted to Chief Criminal Deputy in 2015.
Sheriff King takes over for retiring Sheriff Bill Benedict, who served in that capacity for 16 years.
Also sworn in yesterday was Clallam County’s newest commissioner, Mike French. A two-term City Councilmember who was born and raised in Clallam County, French lives on the west side of Port Angeles with his wife and two children. He’s a graduate of Central Washington University and has owned and operated the First Street Haven Restaurant in downtown Port Angeles for over a decade.
Also new to the County team is Bruce Emery, who took the oath of office for Director of the Department of Community Development.
Emery worked in the planning division of that department for 14 years, beginning in 1993, eventually becoming Senior Planner and training much of the current staff.
In 2007 he joined North Pointe Construction (formerly Green Crow Investments), as a project manager.
(CCSO photo; Sheriff King and family)