A former Butler City Police sergeant who was fired in February after hitting a handcuffed prisoner will be hired as a Butler County sheriff's deputy, Sheriff Mike Slupe confirmed Thursday.

Slupe said that William Mayhugh is currently going through the department's prehiring process, and is expected to join the 30-person force as a deputy on Sept. 18. Slupe said that after a probationary period, which all employees go through, Mayhugh will earn an hourly rate of $20.40.

The sheriff department's primary responsibilities are prisoner transport and security at Butler County Courthouse as well as the county's government center.

Mayhugh, who served as union president for the city police department, was fired after a video captured him striking Nicholas J. Campbell, 34, of Butler on Feb. 12 while Mayhugh and another officer were transporting him into Butler County Prison.

City council members voted 3-2 on Feb. 23 to fire Mayhugh, citing “misconduct and violation of policy.” At the time, council members declined to specify the reason for Mayhugh's dismissal, but the Butler Eagle obtained prison video records showing the incident, which also prompted an investigation by Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger. His investigation into the matter ended in June, and Goldinger declined to file criminal charges against Mayhugh.

On Thursday, Slupe defended Mayhugh as a veteran officer who is “highly respected among his peers,” noting that he had led the county's drug task force for a period of time and had been named unit team leader in the county's Critical Incident Response Team, which formed in February shortly before Mayhugh was fired.

“He's very qualified for the position, and is going through the same process that anyone else goes through,” Slupe said of his decision to hire Mayhugh.

That process includes physical and psychological examinations, as well as other similar testing. And Slupe said the circumstances of Mayhugh's firing didn't create concerns for him, despite deputies' regular and close contact with prisoners.

“I have no concern,” Slupe said. “When I was a police officer I worked opposite of (Mayhugh). To my knowledge Bill's service record has been very, very good.”

Because Mayhugh's hiring will fill an empty position on the department's roster, Slupe said, it doesn't have to be approved by the county's salary board.