Terminated Spokane County sergeant files a million-dollar claim
A former Spokane County Sheriff's sergeant who was fired last month for alleged sexual harassment and racist statements has filed a $12.5 million claim against the county, denying the allegations while claiming that Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich defamed him during a press conference.
Jeff Thurman, an 18-year veteran of the department, allegedly threatened to kill black people during a phone conversation with another deputy in 2016 — remarks that another deputy also heard due to the fact that the call was conducted using a Bluetooth speaker. "You ready to kill some [n-word] tonight or what?" Thurman purportedly said.
Initially, Thurman's supervisors didn't initiate an internal investigation into the remarks after one of the deputies brought them to their attention, Knezovich said at a June 13 press conference. It wasn't until Kevin Richey, president of the deputies union, heard about the incident and informed Knezovich, who initiated an internal investigation. (Thurman was placed on administrative leave back in May 2019 pending the investigation.)
The inquiry also reportedly found that Thurman sexually harassed a female deputy by telling her that he would impregnate her while they were rooming together at an out-of-town training.
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