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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Dibartolo Loses Job As Deputy Sheriff Goldman Fires Murder Suspect For Unspecified Violations Of Department Rules

Spokane County Sheriff John Goldman fired Deputy Tom DiBartolo on Friday.

DiBartolo, an 18-year member of the Sheriff’s Department, is accused of killing his wife last November.

The firing followed an investigation by the department’s office of professional standards, which revealed that DiBartolo had violated departmental rules and regulations. Sheriff’s spokesman Dave Reagan would not say what violations occurred, and Goldman could not be reached for comment.

The investigation started shortly after DiBartolo was arrested in January for the murder of his wife.

“This is essentially a result of the investigation into those allegations,” said Undersheriff Burel Schultz. “This has nothing to do with the criminal case against him.”

Sheriff’s Department officials delivered DiBartolo’s notice of termination to his attorney, Maryann Moreno, on Friday afternoon.

“We’re not making any comment about it right now,” Moreno said. “We’re exploring options including an appeal.”

DiBartolo, 42, is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of his wife Patty, 39. The couple was married 19 years and had five children.

Patty DiBartolo was shot in the back of the head on Nov. 2 in Lincoln Park on Spokane’s South Hill. Investigators say the former deputy murdered his wife, then shot himself in the side to try to cover up the crime.

DiBartolo, who blames the attack on robbers, has pleaded not guilty. He is free on bail until his June trial.

, DataTimes