Bloomfield will soon have a new police officer, as Officer Brad Deckard has decided to join the Greene County Sheriff's Department as a deputy.

Deckard has been with the BPD since last July, Town Marshal Kenny Tharp said.

"His last day will be May 17 then he starts with the county," he added. "I understand (why he is leaving). You can't blame a guy for wanting to better himself."

Now Tharp is reviewing several candidates for the opening.

"I have five candidates and they're all good," he explained. "Evidently we're hiring quality individuals if the county is taking them from us."

But both departments work together well, he noted.

He hopes to have a new hire soon and will interview the candidates this week.

"I don't want to go without coverage," he said. "We knew that we were going to lose one (officer), we just didn't know which one."

In the future, Tharp also hopes to build the department by adding a few reserves.

Currently, the BPD consists of four full-time officers, one reserve as well as Tharp.

"I'm looking to build up the reserves," he said.

It's been about a year since Tharp has headed up the BPD and since then there's not been any major changes.

"There's nothing major. It's been working out pretty good," he added.