Beleaguered Williamson County Sheriff's Commander Calls It Quits

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Beleaguered Williamson County Sheriff's Commander Stephen Deaton — whose offensive Facebook page making light of sexual assault and calling for violence against protesting NFL players among other topics — has resigned.

Over the weekend, Deaton left his sheriff-department-issued equipment — including all his uniforms, security card to gain entry into the cop shop and his police badge — inside an SUV in the parking lot of the sheriff's office, sources told Patch.

By Tuesday, Williamson County spokeswoman Connie Odom confirmed the report after a weekend email from Patch seeking comment. "Just got an update that we did receive notice that Commander Deaton separated from the County effective Sept. 2, 2019," Odom wrote.

She was not able to confirm reports of Deaton's departure before Tuesday as county offices were closed for the Labor Day weekend, Odom explained in a reply to an email from Patch on Labor Day. A message left with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office on Sunday has gone unanswered.

Deaton had come under fire ever since public exposure of his now-deleted Facebook page featuring dolls to depict acts of violence against black NFL players who take a knee during the national anthem at games and making light of sexual assault. The Southern Poverty Law Center was the first to report on Deaton's social media page featuring the use of dolls to air his views on a number of issues.

The violent and misogynistic imagery using Elf on the Shelf and Barbie dolls sparked widespread outrage among community members who called for his ouster. Sheriff Robert Chody declined to discipline Deaton for having created the Facebook page, citing his commander's freedom of expression as outlined in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In response to increasing alienation at work following the outcry over his Facebook page, Deaton filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claiming a hostile work environment, as Patch first reported. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is a federal agency that administers and enforces civil rights laws against workplace discrimination.

Odom said Williamson County Commissioners Court members have not yet received a copy of the EEOC complaint since Deaton filed it. "They have 10 days to receive it, which they think is up on Thursday," Odom wrote in an email to Patch. It's unclear if the EEOC complaint is now void given Deaton's departure.

In addition to complaints about his Facebook page, Deaton also came under fire for asking his subordinates if any of them had slept with a female producer of the reality show "Live PD," which featured Williamson County sheriff's deputies as part of its entertainment mix.

Given the controversies emanating from the sheriff's office — coupled with concerns over ownership of "Live PD" footage that could potentially yield evidence in cases — commissioners recently opted to end the agreement that allows sheriff's deputies work to be filmed for the show.

Previous coverage:

Beleaguered WilCo Commander Files Workplace Complaint

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

WilCo Citizens Not Letting Up To Demand Deaton Ouster