Benton County Sheriff handing over day-to-day operations

Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher sent out a memo to staff members Thursday noting that although he is not stepping down from his position, he will be out of the office more often while he addresses his legal situation.

The decision was communicated to employees in a memo on the same day that unions representing employees in the Sheriff's Office requested that he resign from office.

Sheriff Hatcher confirmed with Newsradio 610 KONA that Commander Thomas Croskrey will handle the day-to-day operations of the department, but he will make any major decisions that come up.

Hatcher was formally charged with two crimes earlier this week, stemming from allegations that he assaulted his wife, and then forced her to contradict her account of the confrontation.

According to a petition for an order of protection filed by Monica Hatcher on October 3, 2019, the Sheriff tried to strangle Mrs. Hatcher in December 2017 when she confronted him about her suspicions that he was having an affair.

The Spokane County prosecutor's office filed the charges against Hatcher, but he hasn't been arrested. He's scheduled to appear in a hearing in Benton County on October 23, 2019 to face charges of Domestic Violence and felony Tampering with a Witness.