Applications are open for the next Benton County Sheriff. How to apply
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- Benton County GOP opens vetting for sheriff; applications due Oct. 17, 2025
- GOP vetting committee will nominate three candidates for county commissioners' choice
- Sheriff must have basic law enforcement training or complete it within one year
The process for picking Benton County’s newest sheriff has started.
The Benton County Republican Party announced that its vetting committee is accepting applications to replace outgoing Sheriff Tom Croskrey.
Croskrey stepped down from his spot on Oct. 2, starting a 60-day clock for the commissioners to pick the person who will serve the remaining year of his term. If the commissioners miss that deadline, the governor would get the authority to make the choice.
Since Croskrey ran as a Republican, the party is responsible for finding three nominees for the commissioners to chose between.
The job requires the sheriff to either have gone through basic law enforcement training or to go through it within a year of taking office, according to state law
Applicants can submit their resumes to the party by email at bcrpwa@bcrpwa.com or by mail at PO Box 2141, Richland, WA 99352. The applications need to be turned in by Friday, Oct. 17. Nominees will be interviewed on a first-come, first-served basis during October.
The candidates interviewed will be invited to speak to the party’s central committee at a Candidate Interview Forum at 6 p.m., Nov. 18 at the Island View Worship Center located at 1520 Fowler Street in Richland.
The precinct committee officers will then meet behind closed doors to decide on the three finalists on Nov. 18.
Anyone with questions can send an email to bcrpwa@bcrpwa.com or by contacting Jerry Martin at 509-460-6186.
Sheriff’s Office
Mike Clark, a 22-year veteran of the office, has been appointed to be sheriff while the decision process plays out.
He has told the Tri-City Herald that he plans to seek the appointment by the commissioners.
The sheriff manages a staff of about 70 commissioned officers and 15 civilian staff.
They provide law enforcement to unincorporated Benton County, including the Finley area as well as Benton City.
This will be the third time in the past 10 years that the commissioners have selected a sheriff to take over the office. Former Sheriff Jerry Hatcher was picked in 2017 to take over for Steve Keane as he recovered from his battle with colon cancer.
Croskrey was picked to lead the office in 2021 after Hatcher was recalled.