Grady County’s emergency management director was fired after nearly three decades on the job, with the termination taking effect while he was recovering from heart surgery in the hospital. The county’s decision has left Dale Thompson without his longtime position and, according to his family, facing the loss of health insurance during a serious medical recovery.
All three Grady County commissioners voted to terminate Thompson’s employment on June 29, with the action made effective July 15, according to News 9’s report. The report said Thompson received the termination notice by certified mail on June 29, while he was away from work after heart surgery in February.
The commissioners’ public agenda for June 29 listed an executive session to discuss Thompson’s employment, followed by a vote on any action arising from that closed-door discussion. The June 29 county agenda does not state why the board sought to end his employment.
Thompson’s daughter told News 9 that her father was terminated after undergoing heart surgery and while he remained hospitalized. She also said the family believed his health insurance would end on July 31, adding financial pressure to an already difficult stretch.
Public records show a weeks-long personnel dispute
The firing followed repeated personnel discussions involving Thompson. Grady County meeting records from June show commissioners entering executive session to discuss his employment, and the county’s June 22 minutes show the issue remained active before the final vote.
State records underscore how long Thompson had been tied to the county’s emergency-response system. An Oklahoma Emergency Management directory published in May listed Thompson as Grady County’s emergency manager and gave his appointment date as March 1, 1998.
Emergency office shifts to interim leadership
The emergency management office coordinates Grady County’s preparation for, response to and recovery from disasters, including severe weather, fires and other hazards. The county describes the department as the lead agency for those efforts on its official emergency management page.
As the county moves forward, Bill Flores is listed as the interim emergency management director. The county staff directory still lists Thompson under the department while also naming Flores as interim, suggesting the online records were in the middle of a transition when last updated.
Family sets up fundraiser after termination
Thompson’s family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover costs following his medical treatment and job loss, News 9 reported. The fundraiser comes as the family says his insurance coverage was set to end shortly after the termination became effective.
The commissioners have not publicly explained the reason for the termination in the agendas and minutes reviewed for this report. For now, the county’s emergency-management operation is being led on an interim basis while Thompson recovers and his family seeks financial support.
