Deputy fired after jailer beaten

One Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy and five other employees were disciplined as a result of a July 14 incident in which a jailer was beaten unconscious by an inmate.

Tina Donahue
Tina Donahue
Thomas Trimberger
Thomas Trimberger

Detention Cpl. Tina Donahue was fired for violating departmental policies, Sheriff Tim Helder said Friday. She was on her cell phone at the time of the assault when she was in a control room and supposed to be monitoring the cell blocks where the beating happened, Helder said.

The jailer, Deputy Thomas Trimberger, remained on the ground unnoticed for about three minutes.

"We're paying them to do a function, and that didn't happen, and as a result, someone got hurt," Helder said.

Trimberger, a part-time deputy, suffered a broken nose, concussion and whiplash, among other injuries. He also received 12 stitches to his lower lip. He has not yet returned to work.

Upcoming Events