Undersheriff Hatcher named interim Benton County sheriff

Undersheriff Jerry Hatcher was appointed as the interim Benton County sheriff by the county commissioners on Tuesday.

Sheriff Steve Keane is retiring on April 1, about a year and a half before his elected term ends following a battle with cancer.

The Republican Party plans to give the county commissioners a ranked list of the three candidates for sheriff. Until they decide on April 11, the commissioners appointed Hatcher as interim sheriff to oversee the 210-employee agency.

The other two applying to be sheriff are Benton County Detective Sgt. Bob Brockman and Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin.

The Republicans plan to interview the candidates before ranking them.

Keane’s appointed replacement will have to run for election in November and again at the end of the incomplete term in 2018.

This story was originally published March 14, 2017 at 3:43 PM with the headline "Undersheriff Hatcher named interim Benton County sheriff."