Thurston County deputy fired after failing to investigate domestic violence call where woman later went missing

The deputy was terminated Tuesday after investigators reviewed body camera footage from a July 12 call involving a woman and her partner.

During that response, the woman told the deputy that her partner had physically assaulted and threatened her earlier that day, the sheriff's office said.

The deputy did not investigate the allegations further or write a case report.

Instead, the deputy entered in the call log, "spoke with [involved party] who stated no assault, no property damage, no threats".

The sheriff's office said an internal investigation determined that entry was an untruthful misrepresentation of what the woman had reported.

The incident came under additional scrutiny after the woman disappeared under suspicious circumstances two days later.

The sheriff's office began investigating her disappearance July 14, and detectives reviewing the earlier body camera footage discovered how the July 12 call had been handled.

Deputies and detectives found the woman unharmed July 15.

After the body camera footage was reviewed, the deputy was placed on administrative leave.

The allegations were later substantiated through an internal investigation, according to the sheriff's office.

Following the termination, a notice of separation was sent to the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and the Prosecutor's Office was provided a Brady notice.

The organization representing the deputy has filed a grievance seeking reinstatement. The sheriff's office said it would issue another news release if the termination is overturned.

The sheriff's office said employees are expected to fully investigate and accurately document domestic violence incidents in accordance with state law, case law, department policy and ethics.