Spokane County Sheriff's Office fires deputy over misconduct

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels has terminated Sgt. Clay Hilton employment with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office (SCSO).

Hilton's termination follows the Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office announcement on Aug. 26, of intending to file felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions that night.

On Sept. 3, Sheriff Nowels met with Hilton and his representatives to discuss Mr. Hilton’s conduct and alleged policy violations from the Aug. 14, 2023, incident.

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After SCSO completed its own internal investigation, they forwarded it to Sheriff Nowels for review.

According to Sheriff Nowels, he determined that Hilton’s conduct was outside of policy and contributed to the charges filed by the Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office.

As a result, Sheriff Nowels has terminated Hilton’s employment with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

“After reviewing the internal investigation, I believe it clearly showed that some members of the Sheriff’s Office, including supervisors, did not meet the standards of conduct expected during and after this incident. I imposed discipline at what I believe is an appropriate level, including the significant step of terminating Mr. Hilton’s employment. Additionally, I have made changes to policy to ensure we appropriately document and review all uses of force.” — Sheriff Nowels

SCSO said, regarding Mr. Hilton's civil case, "we will also refrain from comment as the process continues. We respect the right to a fair trial and do not wish to undermine the proceedings or its fairness."

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“I assure the citizens of Spokane County that we will continue to strive for excellence in our policing and hold ourselves to the high standards they expect. We will also hold accountable those who violate the public’s trust,” said Sheriff Nowels.

Hilton has the right to appeal the Sheriff’s decision and defend himself against the criminal charges he faces.

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