Beleaguered WilCo Commander Files Workplace Complaint

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — The Williamson County Sheriff's Office commander whose offensive Facebook page has unleashed community outrage has now filed a federal workplace complaint, Patch has learned.

The filing with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed by Stephen "Steve" Deaton scheduled to be discussed during the upcoming meeting of the Williamson County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, Aug. 27 — is buried in a packed agenda as the last issue to be addressed under the 60th agenda matter scheduled for discussion. The meeting will take place at 710 S. Main St. in Georgetown.

The emergence of a Facebook page Deaton created using dolls to advance his take on a variety of issues — date rape and silent protests of black players taking a knee during the playing of the National Anthem among them — has sparked broad community outrage and growing calls for his ouster.

In one post, a black-faced elf doll is positioned in a way that it's holding the hair of a vomiting Barbie doll with thoughts in caption form attributed to the elf left wondering if the date rape drug he slipped in her drink would still take effect. In another graphic post, there's another elf doll carrying a tiny chainsaw standing over the mutilated legs of a black NFL player amid a pool of blood in Deaton's stance on how he feels about players taking a knee during the anthem in silent protest over police brutality.

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By extension, Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody has come under fire for his inaction in disciplining the commander for the offensive posts in the now-deleted Facebook page. Chody also has been widely criticized for hitting the "like" button on the violent imagery centered on NFL players after Deaton created the post, later saying it was meant only in support of standing during the anthem rather than as tacit endorsement of violence.

Chody has said that he was advised that "'chilling' the opinions and ideas" expressed by his employees might run afoul of Constitutional protections. The sheriff previously told Patch that he was surprised to learn how challenging it is to discipline a subordinate as it relates to social media use. Chody said he not only learned how complex the legal issue is but also how strong the protection is for governmental employees in expressing ideas or opinions. In applying the rationale, however, numerous residents wonder why the same clearance wasn't given to a pair of canine officers fired after Chody learned they had disparaged the chain of command in texts sent via their private cell phones.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court agenda item for discussion on the EEOC complaint is the 21st entry of the 60th agenda item, vaguely described as: "Stephen "Steve" Deaton, Williamson County Sheriff's Office Commander - EEOC Charge No. 451-2019-03609." Discussion on the matter is slated to take place behind closed doors under executive session as allowed for matters related to personnel, pending litigation, real estate acquisition and other confidential matters.

Well-placed sources told Patch the item refers to Deaton's EEOC fresh claims of a hostile work environment in the wake of the backlash created by his social media activity. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is a federal agency that administers and enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.

Patch emailed the Williamson County Sheriff's Officer public information officer to confirm the filing, but an immediate response was not forthcoming. The county posted the agenda for the Aug. 27 meeting over the weekend in complying with legal requirements to make it available for public view 72 hours ahead of a government meeting.

In a related item, the same Aug. 27 agenda lists as the 48th item a discussion and potential action on the county's employee policy manual, including the social media policy. As the controversy over Deaton's posts grew — with attendant calls for Chody to fire or otherwise discipline Deaton — the sheriff said in a reply to questions from Patch that the existing policies related to social media use by employees was too vague to accommodate disciplinary action.

As a result of Chody's claims, Williamson County Commissioners Court members at their last meeting on Aug. 20 directed staff to tighten the language of the social media policy with greater specificity into what is and isn't allowed. At the same meeting, commissioners voted to end the county's contract with the A&E television show Live PD that filmed WilCo sheriff's deputies in action patrolling the streets.

The Aug. 27 meeting of the Williamson County Commissioners Court is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at 710 S. Main St. in Georgetown.

Previous coverage:

WilCo Sheriff Chody Finds Himself Under Unwelcome Spotlight

WilCo Sheriff Addresses Furor Over Subordinate's Facebook Page

WilCo Commissioners End 'Live PD' Contract

Round Rock Rape Victim Re-Traumatized By Cop's Social Media Page

WilCo Sheriff Disavows Commander's Controversial Facebook Page

Calls For WilCo Sheriff Commander's Removal Intensify

Final 'Live PD' Show Featuring WilCo Cops Airs Aug. 24

Editor's note: The location for Tuesday's meeting of the Williamson County Commissioner's Court has been corrected.