Petition of No Confidence and Request for Accountability

To the Citizens of Washington County, Tennessee, and Elected Officials:

We, the undersigned residents and community members, are formally declaring a loss of confidence in the leadership of Washington County Sheriff Keith Sexton. A sheriff’s foundational duty is to uphold justice, maintain public transparency, and ensure the safety of both the public and law enforcement officers. Based on public records, judicial orders, and investigative reporting, we believe the current administration has fallen short of these critical standards.

Basis for Our Loss of Confidence:

Employment and Credentialing of Disciplined Personnel: Public records show the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) employed a deputy who had previously resigned from the Johnson City Police Department amid an internal investigation, and who later pleaded guilty to official misconduct and tampering with evidence related to disabling recording equipment. Furthermore, state records indicate the Sheriff’s Office communicated with state licensing authorities regarding the retention of this individual's law enforcement credentials.Judicial Orders Regarding Evidence Production: Court records show that First Judicial District Attorney General Steven Finney filed for and obtained a criminal court order compelling the WCSO to turn over mandatory body camera and dashcam evidence, highlighting documented friction in the evidentiary discovery process necessary for local criminal prosecutions.

Inter-Agency Operational Safety Concerns:

Disclosed administrative and legal correspondence between the WCSO and municipal agencies has revealed significant friction regarding unannounced operational boundaries and a lack of participation in safety "deconfliction" meetings, which raises valid public concerns regarding operational safety and potential cross-agency errors.

Transparency in Public Contracts:

Public oversight advocates have raised concerns regarding the procedural transparency of the expanded Flock Safety automated license plate reader agreement, specifically noting that finalized contract details regarding data retention and privacy policies were missing from the publicly accessible county agenda packets during initial taxpayer funding reviews.

Inclusion in Investigative Reporting:

Publicly published investigative journalism by The New Yorker documented the history of local law enforcement's handling of the Sean Williams case. The reporting notes Sheriff Sexton’s early involvement as one of the responding officers serving an initial warrant at the downtown condominium, drawing public scrutiny toward the historical tracking, institutional response, and management of public trust surrounding this case.

Our Demand:

We believe that public trust requires absolute transparency, strict adherence to judicial procedures, and collaborative law enforcement practices. Therefore, we demand that the Washington County Board of Commissioners and relevant state oversight authorities review these documented matters, investigate the management of public funds and transparency protocols within the WCSO, and take all necessary lawful actions to ensure administrative accountability.