Suit against recalled Benton County sheriff returns to WW County

KENNEWICK – U.S. District Court Judge Stanley A. Bastian has ruled against First Amendment violations claims made by a group of seven current and former employees of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, so he’s sending their lawsuit back to Walla Walla County Superior Court.

Three years ago, the group brought a claim of first amendment violations against Benton County alleging the county did not go far enough in stopping former Sheriff Jerry Hatcher from creating a toxic workplace and engaging in alleged targeted harassment, abuse and first amendment violations. The group is suing Benton County for $22 million.

Some of the employees retired, self-demoted to other positions or quit. Then the claim was put on temporary hold during the campaign to recall Hatcher. As a result of the November 2021 recall, Hatcher was removed from office. The group then refiled the claim, followed by a lawsuit in Walla Walla County.

A private investigation for Benton County did find that Hatcher retaliated against several union members and that while sheriff, Hatcher forced two commanders and two lieutenants to either be demoted or lose their jobs for sharing negative information.

The union local filed for Hatcher to be recalled, by a 90 percent vote of the total membership. The allegations against the former sheriff included acts of wrongdoing, obstruction, retaliation, and harassment.

The investigation by the county was prompted when a lieutenant at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office filed a harassment complaint against Hatcher.  It outlined a pattern of derogatory comments, intimidation tactics, and threats purported by the former sheriff. At the time, Hatcher denied the veracity of those interviewed during the investigation.

MyCB file photo of recalled sheriff Jerry Hatcher

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Elkhorn Media Group

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