Anthony HernandezThe Jefferson County Board of Commissioners has appointed Undersheriff Anthony “Tony” S. Hernandez to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff Mike Brasfield. Brasfield, a 41 year veteran law enforcement official in Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, has completed 6 years in office and is retiring effective this Friday, March 27th.

The new Sheriff Hernandez lives in Port Ludlow with his wife and two young daughters. He is a graduate of the University of Washington and has completed his course work for a master’s degree. Hernandez entered law enforcement in 1994 and is an eight-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, where he has held several supervisory and management positions.

Brasfield promoted him to undersheriff in 2007. Prior to that he was the chief criminal deputy in 2006 and was director of community policing and code enforcement coordinator in 2005 and 2006. He served as a sheriff’s deputy from 2001 to 2005.

Prior to Hernandez’ employment with the Sheriff’s Office, he served in a secure facility for runaway youths in Kitsap County as a crisis residential counselor and detention officer.

He was a police officer for the Department of Defense in 1999 and 2000 and a Bremerton reserve police officer from 1997 to 1999. Prior to that Hernandez was a data analyst for the U.S. Marshals Service from 1996 to 1999.

He has attended the FBI National Academy and the state Criminal Justice Academy.