BSRDC MOVES TO TERMINATE ADMINISTRATOR ON 5-4 VOTE 

Lawrence County’s Wells, Castle vote to fire jail administrator who says he will file lawsuit

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This story came out last week while The Lazer was without a news reporter for three days. This article is from The Paintsville Herald as part of our being a member of the Ky. Press Assn. and the PH is as well. We are attempting to get Pete Fitzpatrick’s side of the story at this time  –April 30, 2019)

(APRIL 20, 2019) At their Thursday meeting, the board of the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center voted to suspend administrator F. D. “Pete” Fitzpatrick for 30 days, effective immediately, with his termination to follow at the end of the 30 day period.

The motion from board member Paul Wells to give notice of his impending termination came following a closed executive session of the board lasting more than two hours. Board members Ann Ratliff, Steve Rose, Paul Wells, Tony Allen and board chair Daniel Castle voted in favor of termination; Zach Branham, Bradford Preece, Joe Mills and L. T. Preece voted against it. Johnny Lovely was absent.

Joe Mills, in voting no to the motion, added that he felt any such termination should come in the form of a contract buyout.

That 5-4 vote for termination after 30 days was followed by a 6-3 vote in favor of his immediate suspension, with pay, for that duration. Fitzpatrick was asked to leave the meeting and was relieved of his keys. Mills left the meeting and did not return.

Fitzpatrick told The Paintsville Herald Friday that he could not comment publicly about the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, but said he would be speaking with his attorney and likely filing suit, as the dismissal may be in violation of Fitzpatrick’s contract for employment.

“I’ve enjoyed my time. I’ve worked with some really good people, and I feel good about my accomplishments,” Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick said his record as BSRDC administrator includes turning around the books from an estimated $500,000 in the red to over $1 million in the black for the general fund, and having no inmate deaths in custody while other local jails cannot say the same. A recent 236-point inspection of the BSRDC, Fitzpatrick said, was passed on all but two points, both for overcrowding, a problem that is beyond the jail administrator’s control.

No reason was given in the meeting for Fitzpatrick’s termination, but board chairperson Daniel Castle said the board “had cause”.