Powder River Examiner -

The Powder River County Sheriff's Department has hired a new deputy. Last week, Ayche (pronounced like the letter "H") Draine donned his vest for the first time.

If Ayche's last name sounds familiar, it's because he is a cousin to the Draine family of Boyes. During an interview this week, Ayche said his grandfather, Harlan, was from the area, and Ayche spent time here when he was growing up. Ayche is named after his great-grandfather.

The Draine and Drane families are distantly related, so when Sheriff Allen Drane, Jr. found out a distant relative was applying for the deputy position, he spoke to County Attorney Jeff Noble, and kept himself separate from the hiring process as much as possible to make sure no nepotism rules were being broken. Sheriff Drane says that Undersheriff Hagedorn did Ayche's background check, and former MT Highway Patrolman Les Thompson took the Sheriff's spot on the hiring board. According to the Sheriff, the relation is somewhere on the order of an 8th cousin, and he wanted to make sure all rules were being properly followed. Ayche and Sheriff Drane met for the first time on the first day Ayche came to work.

Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Ayche said he came across the job posting one night as he was perusing the internet.

Ayche went to school in Springfield, attaining his Eagle Scout in 2010, and graduating from high school in 2014. He went on to a technical school, becoming a Medical Assistant and later an EMT. He spent four years on the committee of Relay 4 Life, and has performed lots of other volunteer work.

Before his move to Montana, Ayche was most recently working for the Department of Corrections in Ohio. He commented that he had always wanted to work in law enforcement, as well as enjoying this part of the country during visits in his youth, so the move to Montana seemed to be a great opportunity.

The 25 year old officer spoke: "The move out here was a big leap. That being said, I'm really excited about the job and to be here, and I'm happy to have the chance to meet new people."

He also mentioned that he plans on becoming involved in the community as much as possible, in addition to his duties as an officer. Ayche will train in under current deputy Brenden Stevenson and Sheriff Drane (as well as newly re-hired full time deputy John Gatlin). Ayche is then scheduled to attend the Montana Law Enforcement Academy in April.