Deputy Sheriff James Joseph Slater

James Joseph Slater

Deputy James Slater was killed in an automobile accident while en route to back up a fellow officer who was following a stolen vehicle at 0227 hours.

A citizen called 911 and reported a patrol vehicle in the ditch and the deputy unconscious. It is believed that Deputy Slater started sliding on a corner and overcorrected, causing him to hit a utility pole that flipped the patrol car four times.

Deputy Slater was flown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at approximately
2230 hours.

Deputy Slater was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had been employed with the Spokane County Sheriff's Department for 2.5 years. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.