Washington County — Sheriff Brooksby's $100,000 separation agreement released; county says no investigation was ever done
What we asked for: (1) the separation or severance agreement between Washington County and former Sheriff Nate Brooksby from about March 2026, including the money terms and any secrecy terms; and (2) the record of the outcome of any internal or outside investigation of him that was open or finished when he resigned. After the agreement came back, a follow-up asked for the records on the misconduct allegations the agreement mentions, the county statement the county had referred to, and the record approving and paying the $100,000.
What we got: the signed agreement and the records behind it. The agreement (signed March 28, 2026) says the county had “received allegations of misconduct,” which Brooksby denies; that he resigns effective March 27, 2026; that the county will pay him $100,000 within 14 days and “refrain from any further investigation into the allegations”; and that he may keep his county cell phone but may not enter secured county areas from March 30, 2026. His one-line irrevocable resignation letter is attached as Exhibit A. The agreement contains no confidentiality clause. On the investigation, the county attorney's office answered that “there was no internal or independent investigation done in this incident, therefore there are no records to provide.” The county later sent the anonymous letter the commissioners received, which it says “led to the separation” and describes the allegations, a redacted pay record showing the $100,000 lump-sum payment dated March 30, 2026, and the County Commission's public statement. That statement says the complainants did not want their concerns pursued if Brooksby resigned, and the county is “respecting their wishes.”
View the agreement Download County reply: no investigation records Anonymous letter to the commission $100,000 pay record County Commission statement agreement: PDF, 5 pages · letter, complaint, pay record, statement: 1 page each