Swisher County commissioners accepted Sheriff Emmett Benavidez’s resignation Thursday after completing an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.
Benavidez peered from behind a screen door at his home on the outskirts of Tulia about 2:50 p.m. Thursday. When asked why he’d resigned, Benavidez only answered, “That is between the county and me,” and closed the door.
County commissioners later had an emergency meeting to accept his resignation. County Judge Harold Keeter said the move came after an investigation into two allegations of sexual harassment leveled against the sheriff separately by two unidentified county employees.
“Two allegations were referred to my office,” Keeter said. “My office conducted the investigation.”
Keeter would not comment on whether Texas Rangers participated in the investigation, but said it began about Oct. 31.
Keeter declined to discuss specifics of the allegations or the investigation. On Monday, Keeter and County Attorney Michael Criswell presented the findings to Benavidez, who said he would retire, Keeter said. Benavidez submitted his handwritten resignation the next day.
“This is to inform you that as of today, Nov. 8, 2011, I am resigning my elected position as sheriff of Swisher County,” Benavidez wrote. “Thank you for all your support in the past.”
Commissioners gathered Thursday afternoon in the Swisher County Courthouse in Tulia and voted unanimously to accept the resignation.
According to county records, the latest allegations were not the first time the sheriff was involved in workplace sexual harassment claims.
In December 2009, Benavidez won a summary judgment in another sexual harassment case involving a former jailer/clerk, according to court documents.
Keeter said he was unaware of the first claim until the lawsuit was filed against Benavidez, who was chief deputy at the time.
Benavidez, who was elected in 2008, had worked for the Sheriff’s Department off and on for about 29 years.
No criminal charges have been filed, and there is no criminal investigation, Criswell said.
The people who filed the complaints agreed to let their cases drop if Benavidez resigned, he said.
“The resignation today ends any potential investigation,” Criswell said Thursday.
Criswell said Chief Deputy Cody Grubb, who has been acting sheriff since Monday, could temporarily take the open seat, or the commission could fill it until next year’s election.
Keeter said the commission would discuss the process to replace the sheriff during its next meeting, scheduled for Monday. Benavidez’s term as sheriff was scheduled to end in 2012.
The Swisher County Sheriff runs an office of about 10 employees. As sheriff, Benavidez’s salary was $38,760.
Staff writer Joe Gamm can be contacted at joe.gamm@amarillo.com. Staff writer Aziza Musa can be contacted at aziza.musa@amarillo.com. Staff writer Brittany Nunn contributed to this report.
