With the last name Holmes, it was only natural that he entered law enforcement.

And with interests in boating and basketball and a knack for building relationships, the La Conner detachment office seems an ideal assignment for veteran Skagit County Sheriff's Sgt. Brad Holmes.

Holmes, who has worked nearly a quarter-century in a wide range of police services, has succeeded retired Sgt. Beau Montgomery as lead officer in La Conner.

"I put in for La Conner a while ago," Holmes, who has an extensive background in both search-and-rescue and crisis response and negotiation, told the Weekly New...