Calls For WilCo Police Commander's Resignation Grow

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — In light of recent media coverage on a recently discovered police commander's offensive social media page — in which rape joke abound and images of violence against black football players appear — a county judge on Thursday called for the resignation of the police officer behind the posts.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell on Thursday called for the resignation of Stephen Deaton, the commander behind the offensive posts, Precinct 1 County Commissioner Terry Cook said via Twitter.

The commissioner said Gravell started a budget meeting with "a heartfelt apology" for having hit the "like" button on one of Deaton's posts that featured the mutilation of a black football player in supporting disdain for athletes who kneel during the National Anthem as silent protest against police brutality. Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody also clicked "like" on the graphic post, but later explained it was prompted by his respect for the anthem rather than an endorsement of violence.

Calls for sheriff's commander Stephen Deaton, pictured here, continue to grow after discovery of his offensive Facebook page cracking jokes about rape and depicting violence against protesting NFL players. Photo via Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

Another post on Deaton's now-deleted page shows a black-faced elf doll holding the hair of a Barbie while she is made to look like she's vomiting. Deaton commends the shelf doll for the gentlemanly act of holding the hair for his "date" but wrote that he silently wondered if the date drug he slipped her would still be effective.

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"Wilco Commissioners Court's budget modification meeting started with a heart-felt apology by Judge Gravell for his involvement with one of Steve Deaton's facebook posts and then strong words of condemnation of Deaton's behavior and call for his resignation," Cook wrote on her Twitter page. She added: "#cloudofshame lifting."

Former with the Austin Police Department, Deaton joined the WilCo force after Chody became sheriff. Chody also once served in the APD before resigning after he was sued for the violent arrest of a black teenager. An epileptic, the teenager went into seizure after Chody allegedly forced him down with a wrestling hold known as a half nelson.

Gravell's comments at the commissioners court meeting will appear on the county website in archived form by Friday. It can be viewed here when made available for public view.

Reaction to Gravell's apology to having "liked" the post Deaton created — with meticulously positioned dolls to create a bloody scene of a football player's mutilated legs at the hands of a chainsaw-carrying elf doll.

"I hope that Judge @BillGravell will learn from this experience and move on," one Twitter user said. "And we are rooting for all of you to come together and restore faith in elected offices in Wilco!" Another user wrote: "Better late than never, though it took quite a bit of public shaming to get to this point."

Residents addressing county commissioners previously called for Deaton to be fired or urged him to resign. On Twitter, several echoed the sentiment after Gravell's comments calling for the commander to resign. "I hope this gets traction," one resident wrote on the comments thread to Cook's post. "He needs to go!!" Added another: "Amen! I’d like to see that video. Deaton HAS got to GO! So does Chody! We need our peace back."

Sheriff Robert Chody (pictured here) has declined to discipline has commander over offensive social media postings. Photo via Williamson County Sheriff's Office.

Chody has declined to discipline Deaton for having created the controversial social media page — and the public furor inspired by it. In an answer to media questions, Chody said he was unable to effectively punish his commander given what he called a vague departmental policy as it relates to social media use. Chody added that disciplining his commander might run afoul of the freedom of speech provisions enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.