Jumping into the race for the office of Stanislaus County Sheriff, current Stanislaus County Deputy Tom Letras filed his papers at the Modesto elections office on Monday afternoon, March 3, making his bid for Stanislaus sheriff official.

“I am excited to announce that I will officially be a candidate for sheriff in the upcoming June election,” said Letras. “I plan to bring common sense and solid leadership back to the sheriff’s department.”

Letras announced his intent to run for sheriff in September 2012 citing what he termed a lack of leadership, low morale in the department and a large number of lawsuits against the sheriff’s department as reasons for his campaign. Letras is a 16-plus year veteran of the department who has extensive and wide-ranging experience within the sheriff’s department.

Letras began his career in 1997 after being hired by then-sheriff Les Weidman to work as a custody deputy in the sheriff’s detention facilities. Since that time, Letras has served as the Public Information Officer (PIO), a patrol deputy, gang detective, and many other assignments within the department.

He suggested that residents visit his website at www.letrasforsheriff.com to learn more about him and why he is running for sheriff.