Wash. Supreme Court published opinion — 989681.pdf

Citation: Wash. Supreme Court published opinion — 989681.pdf
Jurisdiction: Washington (state)
Source: Official source
Original Source: https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/989681.pdf ↗

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implications and would better support our final recommendation by Investigators

to have this entire report reviewed by an Attorney or Prosecutor for guidance with

appropriate feedback and/or referral.” Id. at 571. These “issues” include allegations

of intimidation of whistleblowers, criminal conduct, tampering with witnesses, and

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For the current opinion, go to https://www.lexisnexis.com/clients/wareports/.
In re Recall Charges Against Benton County Sheriff Gerald D. Hatcher,
No. 98968-1

a lack of objectivity in the investigation as Sheriff Raymond has been publicly

supporting Sheriff Hatcher and is his political ally. Id. at 571-72.

Also on February 14, 2020, separate from Sergeant Erickson’s accusations

that day, the Benton County prosecutor appointed two special deputy prosecutors,

Jeffrey J. Druckman and Janine C. Blatt, to conduct an independent investigation

into Lieutenant Magnuson’s harassment complaint. Ms. Blatt conducted the

witness interviews and compiled the investigation report.

On March 19, 2020, she interviewed, in person, BCSO officers Lieutenant

Magnuson, the complainant, and Lieutenant Mathew Clarke. Ms. Blatt was unable

to interview Commander Law and Commander Caughey that day due to the

sheriff’s interference. That day, both Commander Law and Commander Caughey

sought Sheriff Hatcher’s permission to take the afternoon off to attend their

interview with Ms. Blatt. When Sheriff Hatcher learned that their attorney would

be attending, he told them they could be interviewed during work hours on duty if

they agreed not to have an attorney present. Sheriff Hatcher told Commander

Caughey that he would “‘find out what these interviews state and if you are not