Marshall County has started its search for a new 911 director.
Marshall County Commissioners voted on Wednesday to uphold Judge-Executive Kevin Neal’s decision to dismiss former director Misti Drew following an appeal hearing. Both Bob Gold and Johnny Bowlin voted to confirm termination of employment; District 3 Commissioner Rick Cocke recused himself from the vote on the grounds that he and Drew had faced each other in the general election for the commissioner’s seat.
Drew served as District 3 commissioner until Cocke defeated her in the 2014 general election; she was hired as the county’s 911 director in 2015. Neal filed an intent to terminate her employment Sept. 5. According to a statement Neal issued to media Friday, Sept. 22, Drew was “not meeting job expectations as the director of Marshall County E-911.”
Neal did not return calls or an email message Friday to comment further.
According to documents provided in an open records request, Drew was suspended for five days without pay on Oct. 13, 2016, following an incident at a Sept. 19, 2016, training session in Richmond.
No other disciplinary actions were filed against Drew during her time with 911.
“I feel like there should have been a more formal review of accomplishments vs. lack of when making this decision,” Drew wrote in comments on initial termination documentation provided to Marshall County Daily in open records request. “There have been many good things to come from our 911 center over the past two years.”
Neal said the county would begin its search for a new director immediately. The county advertised the position on its social media Thursday, Sept. 21.
“We will immediately begin the process of identifying a replacement director and will have a recommendation to present to the Fiscal Court as soon as possible,” Neal said in a statement to media on Friday. The county is accepting resumes on the position through 4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.
Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars said he’d volunteered to serve on the selection committee to find a new director, and advised that emergency services personnel should also be a part of the process.
Byars said no interim director had been named; however, 911 dispatcher Sheila Day was managing day-to-day operations for the time being.
More information on this story will be released as it becomes available.