Sheriff Roger Leclaire began his career in the Sheriff’s Office in 1973. Over the course of the next 10 years, Sheriff Leclaire served in many capacities in the Department, including Guard, Road Patrolman, Road Patrol Sergeant and Investigator. Sheriff Leclaire left the Department in 1983, when he took the position of Senior Investigator for the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. In the District Attorney’s Office, he was in charge of all Criminal Investigators, Supervisor of the Washington County Arson Squad and Stop DWI Coordinator for the County. He was elected Sheriff in the Fall of 1995. Sheriff Leclaire is a graduate of the State University of New York Empire State College. He has attended numerous police schools and has qualified as a level two arson investigator and also has qualified as a fingerprint expert. Sheriff Leclaire also holds the rank of Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. Washington County has a population of 62,807 and an area of 835 square miles.