Friday, April 19, 2024
Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Coordinator Ray Wilson has been placed on two weeks’ paid administrative leave as the sheriff’s office works to conclude an investigation of Wilson and Deputy Fire Marshal Jeff Young.
The decision to place Wilson on paid leave was made by the Commissioners Court on Tuesday after an hours-long closed session. At one point, Wilson was summoned to the meeting room.
The specifics of the investigation have not been made public.
About 30 firefighters attended Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Commissioners Court in what seemed to be a show of support for Wilson.
Many skipped lunch and were still there when the elected officials emerged from closed session at 2:20 p.m. and voted unanimously to place Wilson on paid leave.
County Judge Ron Massingill indicated that the investigation will probably be completed by the time the Commissioners Court meets again on Tuesday, June 11, enabling the court to decide on a course of action at that time.
Before the Commissioners Court went into closed session to discuss the matter, Tolar Fire Chief Matt Hutsell, who is also president of the Hood County Firefighters Association, spoke in support of Wilson.
He listed various professional councils and committees that Wilson serves on and noted that Wilson has led the county through three federally declared disasters.
Wilson had been on the job just days in May 2013 when a deadly tornado struck the Rancho Brazos neighborhood and nearby areas, killing six.
Hutsell also stated that he feels that the investigation has been “handled poorly.” He took issue with the fact that the sheriff’s office announced the investigation on its Facebook page.
The post states that the sheriff’s office was asked to open an investigation into the fire marshal’s office on May 20 and that it is being handled by the department’s criminal investigation division.
The Commissioners Court appointed Sheriff Roger Deeds to serve as interim fire marshal until the matter is resolved. Deeds has served before in that capacity.
Wilson did not respond to a request for comment.
kcruz@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066, ext. 258
