County Judge Brint Carlton clarified Tuesday his reasons for terminating former Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan Peabody. Carlton commented that specifically he fired Peabody on May 12 for lying, insubordination, and being absent without notice. He further stated the firing stemmed from an incident that same day when Carlton confronted Peabody about taking vacation on the previous Thursday instead of Friday as had been approved by the county judge his supervisor.
The judge confirms the Texas Rangers were conducting an investigation of Peabody. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office spoke to the Texas Rangers in regards to some paperwork filed by Peabody for overtime hours during the March floods in Orange County. Carlton indicated the firing and the investigation are two separate issues and are not connected to each other. “I do not know the status of it, I have not been contacted by anyone in the Texas Rangers for that investigation,” Carlton concluded.
Peabody was recruited by Carlton in January of 2015 to be the Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC). Charlie Cox from the Beaumont Fire Department has been hired by Judge Carlton to be the new Emergency Management Coordinator and officially takes the position on July 25. Missy Pillsbury is serving as the interim EMC.
Dan Perrine, KOGT
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