Commissioners deny Sheriff Hatcher’s request for help with legal representation

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- At their meeting on Tuesday, the Benton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to deny a request from Benton County Sheriff Jerry Hatcher to help pay for legal representation to fight an effort to remove him from office.

Benton County Prosecutor Andy Miller appealed to the commissioner's on Hatcher's behalf, telling the board that a decision to help pay for legal representation did not equate with the board disagreeing with the effort to recall the sheriff.

"The decision, if Sheriff Hatcher is recalled, will be a political decision ultimately decided by the voters if the judge finds there's legal basis," Miller told commissioner's during Tuesday's meeting. "And one reason I made the determination to allow legal representation is I suppose a belief in the system. A judge is going to have to make the decision. Not all recall petitions are approved by a judge. The judge has to find there's legal basis, legal sufficiency for the recall petition."

A judge has not yet made the decision, though the prosecutor's office has forwarded the case onto a judge.

Commissioner Shon Small, who has long been a supporter of Sheriff Hatcher, applauded some of the positive influences Hatcher has had on the sheriff's office and the jail since he was first appointed as Sheriff in May of 2017, and then elected to the position later that year, such as implementing drug court that allows those serving time for drug crimes to seek rehabilitation.

However, Small said he's seen a different side of Hatcher over the past year, after having conversations with long-term employees of the Sheriff's Office.

"So, in regards to us actually paying for anything from the hard taxpayers' money, with the conduct that has been presented and carried out by Sheriff Hatcher, I not only say no, but I also say hell no," Small said. "I'm not gonna pay for anything. I wish he would actually resign."

Following the decision by the commissioners, Sheriff Hatcher sent a statement to Newsradio 610 KONA, saying, "As sheriff, I have had to remain quiet and let the process unfold. We are now at a point in the process where the rest of the information and facts can be shared publicly and I look forward to providing your listeners with the additional information to help them better understand the issues."

Earlier this year, the Benton County Sheriff's Deputies Guild approved a vote of no confidence in Hatcher, followed by a vote to pursue a recall of the Sheriff. The paperwork for that recall petition was submitted in late July, and was recently forwarded on to a judge who will determine whether the petition can move forward.

If the petition moves forward, the petitioners would then need to collect enough voter signatures to have the recall placed on a ballot, which would likely not happen until February.