Wagoner County 911 Coordinator Suspended By Commissioners

The Wagoner County sheriff is looking for answers after county commissioners suspended his wife from her job as the county’s 911 coordinator. The commissioners have not discussed why they made the move, citing it was done in executive session.

“For her to be suspended pending an investigation, we’re just amiss as to what’s going on,” said Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott.

In an emergency meeting, the county’s three commissioners voted to suspend Judy Elliott from the job she has held for nearly two decades. Her husband says she has been a faithful employee, improving radio systems and adding new technology during her tenure.

“She’s within a couple of years of being able to draw full county retirement,” said Elliott.

The meeting was conducted without public notice, but there is an exception to that rule if it is an emergency situation. Questions arose during the meeting about whether this met those criteria.

The commissioners decided to enter an executive session anyway.

“So not having dispatchers to dispatch deputies, ambulance services, fire departments, that wouldn’t constitute as a state of emergency in a county?” asked someone in the meeting.

Commissioners did not explain their concern over having a lack of dispatchers.

Judy’s removal comes a week after voters overwhelmingly struck down eight tax proposals put forth by the county commissioners. The sheriff says he was a vocal opponent against those taxes.

“Next thing you know, 911 coordinator gets suspended,” said Elliott. “I can see where the public out there is doing the math and coming up with that. I don’t know if I agree or disagree with it. I simply don’t have enough information to say that.”

Sheriff Elliott says the next step is to see what happens with his wife’s employment. The county commissioners have called another special meeting for Friday at 1:30 p.m.