Deputy Sheriff James Joseph Slater, Spokane County Sheriff's Department, Washington

Deputy Sheriff James Joseph Slater

Spokane County Sheriff's Department, Washington

End of Watch Friday, August 29, 2003

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.