UPDATE: Benton commander who backed Hatcher’s recall named interim sheriff

A longtime Benton County Sheriff’s Office employee who supported the effort to recall his former boss is now the acting sheriff.

Commander Jon Law was chosen Tuesday in a 2-1 vote after the Benton County commissioners met for 40 minutes in a closed-door executive session.

The decision was made three hours after the Benton County Canvassing Board certified the Aug. 3 election results, which included the recall of Sheriff Jerry Hatcher.

Hatcher, who served as sheriff since May 2017, had to leave his office immediately. He lost with 74% of the vote in favor of his recall.

The county quickly updated its department page to name Sheriff Jon Law.

Law most recently worked for the sheriff’s office since 2003.

‘Nearly every rank’

In a letter published in the Tri-City Herald in July, he said he has served under four different elected sheriffs, “held nearly every rank from deputy to commander and worked with some of the most honest and dedicated individuals I have ever known.”

He first worked for the agency in 1995 in the corrections division, when it was run by the sheriff, followed by four years at the Prosser Police Department.

Law said in his Herald letter that the recall effort against his then-boss Jerry Hatcher was the most important issue the office has ever faced and said he was in full support of it.

“My loyalty and service have always remained first and foremost with this community and not with a single person,” wrote Law.

At the time he was president of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Command Staff Guild, though that is likely to change with his new position.

Law attended Tuesday’s meeting along with several other uniformed colleagues.

Also in the audience at the Benton County Justice Center was Joe Lusignan — a retired deputy who has expressed interest in being sheriff, along with retired Benton Undersheriff Paul Hart and retired Kennewick police Sgt. Ken Lattin who ran against Hatcher in 2017.

GOP to recommend 3

The county commissioners had to select an interim sheriff from within the agency.

The Human Resources Department provided them with a list of all employees to consider from sergeants up to the undersheriff.

The commissioners bypassed Undersheriff John Clary, who is rumored to have a job offer at a police department in the Yakima Valley. Last week, the county board received a letter of “no confidence” in Clary from the Benton County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild.

The acting sheriff will serve until the commissioners appoint a sheriff from a list of three eligible candidates provided by the Benton County Republican Party.

The replacement must come from the same party that Hatcher was when elected.

That appointment is expected to take place in September, and the person will serve out the remainder of Hatcher’s unexpired term through 2022.

7 claims denied

On Tuesday, the board’s chairman, Jerome Delvin, had the dissenting vote for Law as acting sheriff.

He made it clear at the start of the special meeting that he would have an issue with appointing someone who has a claim against the county, because it could cause ethical problems for the prosecutor’s office and potentially cost the taxpayers.

Law was one of seven current and former sheriff’s office employees who in early June asked the county to pay them a combined $22 million for failing to protect them against now-former Sheriff Hatcher’s alleged intimidation and retaliation tactics.

The county took no action on the claims, which means the seven men now can file a formal lawsuit.

Tuesday, before going into the closed-door session, Commissioner Shon Small said he understood some of Delvin’s concerns but had to look at the bigger picture and the “amazing, outstanding people” who work in the sheriff’s office.

He pointed out that about 26 employees have left the department since 2019, with 14 current vacancies and more likely on their way out.

‘A hornet’s nest’

Small, a former sheriff’s deputy, said he cannot question the credibility or integrity of those seven on the list.

Delvin clarified that he understands “the people who filed the claim maybe needed to protect themselves and their families while Hatcher was there,” but said it still is a concern for him, especially if they end up suing the county.

Commissioner Will McKay added he hopes and prays their interim choice does a good job in the coming weeks and that the eventual appointment they make from the Republican Party list “can get the turmoil taken care of in the next year and a half. Then the constituents can vote in the person that they want.”

“I wasn’t planning on stepping into the hornet’s nest, but this is the hornet’s nest,” said McKay, who’s been on the board since January.

After discussing their options, McKay described it as a “horrible, tough decision” and said the 40 minutes behind closed doors was “not fun at all.”

Small made the motion to appoint Law.

“In my eyes, Jon Law is the best candidate that we have,” said Small. He noted that he had heard from Law’s colleagues in the sheriff’s office, other law enforcement agencies and citizens around the county about the choice the board had to make.

Delvin reiterated his reservations before voting “nay.”

“I just hope that ... the steps are taken by Jon Law to settle things down, to get the confidence back,” he said. “I’ll wait to see what happens in four weeks when the county party submits the names, and see what happens in the meantime on some issues.”

Support of state organization

On Wednesday, the Washington Fraternal Order of Police applauded the commissioners selection.

“Commander Law brings extensive law enforcement experience as a line officer to this position,” president Marco Monteblanco said in the news release.

“He is the right person to lead the department and will work to restore trust in the office and integrity to the position.”

“Jon Law brings a high level of professionalism and expertise to this office and will help the community and law enforcement heal as it works to move past the Hatcher recall,” continued Monteblanco, who also is a Kennewick police detective.

“He has held almost every rank in the department and understands not only the complexities of the position but also the changing role of law enforcement. We applaud Commander Law’s selection and want to reiterate our full support of him in this new role.”

This story was originally published August 17, 2021 at 3:37 PM.