CENTRALIA — The Centralia Police Department announced the appointment Monday of its newest patrol officer.

According to Centralia Police Chief Greg Dodson, Austin Leslie is Centralia’s newest probationary patrolman.

Patrolman Leslie has been serving as a Washington County Sheriff‘s deputy for the past six months and will start the 14 week Southwestern Illinois Police Academy in Belleville followed by the Centralia Police Department’s 12-week field training program.

Patrolman Leslie is from Beckmeyer and graduated from Central Community High School in Breese before attending Criminal Justice Classes at Kaskaskia College.