Ironton’s blue line will be extended a bit this week.

Two new police officers will be sworn in; one will replace Jerry Leach, who recently retired from the department, the other will fill a new position.

Ashley Porter will be sworn in Monday afternoon at the Ironton City Center.

Porter, 26, is originally from Ironton but now lives in Portsmouth. She is a graduatre of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Aacdemy in Scioto County and had worked at the Seaman Police Department in Adams County.

She will replace Leach. Porter will be only the third woman hired in the city department.

Stephen Wilson will be sworn in during a ceremony Tuesday at the city center. Wilson, 25, is an Ironton resident and a recent graduate of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy at the Collins Career Center.

Ironton Police Chief Jim Carey said he was most impressed by the hard work and determination both displayed in getting their training to become officers.

“They both had the desire to be in law enforcement. Both are married and have children and worked to put themselves through school,” Carey said.

Both Porter and Wilson will begin work Wednesday.

These two officers will bring the department’s roster to 15.