Ex-dispatcher filing lawsuit against county

SANDPOINT — A former longtime Bonner County dispatcher alleges in a lawsuit she was fired from her post after blowing the whistle on favoritism and misuse of the department’s vacation and time-off policies.

Counsel for Brandy Read filed the suit in 1st District Court on May 17, records show.

Read contends she was handed her personal belongings and a termination letter in November 2017, several months after she raised questions about other dispatchers who were given priority even though they had continually violated policies involving vacation time and time off. Read said her supervisor, Trace Drumwright, did not respond well to the line of inquiry and warned her disruptive employees would be shown the door, according to the lawsuit.

Read further alleges in the suit that lower-level dispatchers were having alcohol-fueled “sleepovers” at their superior’s home and one unidentified supervisor came into work so intoxicated that the person vomited.

Read worked on and off for dispatch for 13 years, held supervisory positions and received positive remarks during annual performance reviews, the suit said.

“Read was never disciplined or otherwise provided with any negative comments or supervision prior to her termination in 2017,” Read’s attorneys, Robin Haynes and Wendy Earle, said in the suit.

Read’s attorney’s argue the county violated its own employment policies by denying her a six-month performance review or a hearing to clear her name. Instead of being granted a hearing, Reads attorneys said their client received two offers to resign in lieu of termination.

The suit seeks unspecified damages for wrongful termination, due-process violations and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.