A Rosalia woman has filed a lawsuit against Whitman County and its former longtime undersheriff, alleging she suffered domestic abuse as a result of the undersheriff’s authority and a lack of proper training or policy at the sheriff’s office.
Barbara Rockness filed a complaint in federal court last week against former Undersheriff Ron Rockness and the county. She alleged Ron Rockness verbally and physically abused her during their brief marriage. He also allegedly warned her that his position at the sheriff’s office would protect him .
“Mr. Rockness used his leadership position with Whitman County Sheriff’s Office against Ms. Rockness,” the complaint states. “Every time he abused her he’d warn her that calling 911 would be useless because one of his friends within Whitman County Sheriff’s Office’s would undoubtedly respond to the call and disbelieve her.”
Ron Rockness served as Whitman County Undersheriff for about 17 years before retiring last June. Authorities charged Ron Rockness with second-degree assault in January of last year after he allegedly broke his wife’s finger during an argument in October of 2019.
His case is scheduled to go to trial in August.
Court records indicate Barbara and Ron Rockness met in late 2017 when he responded to a domestic dispute call between Barbara and a previous husband. The undersheriff reportedly approached her a few months later and they began a romantic relationship. They eventually married in June of 2019.
Since the alleged assault in 2019, court records state they have initiated dissolution proceedings, but their marital status was otherwise unclear.
Barbara Rockness accused Whitman County in her complaint of failing to provide proper training or department policies that would have prevented the undersheriff’s alleged abuse of authority.
“Whitman County’s failure to establish a policy prohibiting law enforcement officers from forming romantic relationships with crime victims,” the complaint alleges, “constituted deliberately indifferent training, deliberately indifferent supervision and a deliberately indifferent failure to adopt policies necessary to prevent constitutional violations.”
In an email to Whitman County Watch, Sheriff Brett Myers confirmed the sheriff’s office does not have any policy prohibiting employees from having relationships with crime victims or parties involved in prior investigations. Myers declined to make any additional comment due to the pending lawsuit.
Barbara Rockness argues she has suffered personal injuries and financial damages as a result of the county’s lack of oversight. Her complaint is seeking monetary compensation for claimed damages as well as attorney fees.