Washington County Quorum Court postpones discussion on sheriff's office investigation

Washington County justices voted to indefinitely postpone a public discussion about an internal investigation into the sheriff's office, which has raised allegations of property and funds misuse. The investigation, initiated by County Judge Patrick Deakins, examined claims that a maintenance supervisor utilized county equipment for personal use and that employees sold stripped parts from old air conditioners without returning the proceeds to county accounts. Justice of the Peace Bradley Burns argued that the matter had already been thoroughly investigated, as indicated by a review from the Attorney General's office, which found no criminal charges. Judge Deakins maintained that transparency is essential, stating, "This is public information. Every member of the public should know what’s going on.

" The postponement also impacted discussions regarding the potential transfer of certain sheriff's office jobs to county control. Sheriff Jay Cantrell declined to comment on the situation when approached by 40/29 News. This ongoing issue highlights the tension between accountability and transparency in local government, as citizens demand clarity on potential misconduct.