Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Supes fire Hinds EOC Director Jimmie Lewis (Video)

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors fired Emergency Operations Center Director Jimmie Lewis today in a move not on the agenda, and surprised all spectators present today. The Board offered the position to former Deputy Director Ricky Moore.



Supervisor Robert Graham brought up the issue of Mr. Lewis' job performance even though it was not on the agenda. He said there were millions of dollar in "grants we are not getting" and "the department is not progressing the way Hinds County is concerned." He said, "As Board President I'd like to exercise my prerogative to ask for the immediate termination of a Hinds County employee for failing to do their job." Mr. Graham called it a matter of "public safety" and moved to immediately fire the EOC Director and hire someone "today". Supervisor Phil Fisher seconded the motion.

Supervisors Graham, Anderson, and Fisher voted to fire Mr. Lewis. Peggy Hobson-Calhoun was absent. Mr. Graham then moved to hire Mr. Moore to as the new director. Deputy Director Joey Perkins will serve as interim Director.

Ironically, it was Mr. Graham who brought Mr. Lewis on board four years ago when long-time director Larry Fisher retired. Mr. Lewis was the head of the department of permits and zoning. He possessed a Masters in Physical Education. Mr. Moore, who is white, sued the county after he was passed over for the position in favor of Mr. Lewis and alleged racial discrimination. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in December 2011. The relationship between Mr. Lewis and the Board President has been a stormy one, as Charles Graham, the brother of Robert Graham, joined the EOC as Deputy Director when Mr. Lewis assumed the leadership of the EOC. Mr. Lewis fired Charles Graham a year later. Mr. Lewis and Robert Graham have skirmished at several board meetings.

Editorial note: I'm not too surprised by this move when I think about it. Mr. Lewis should not have been hired in the first place, as he was not qualified for the job. Two incidents last year come to mind regarding his job performance. The first was when tornadoes passed through southern Hinds County and Mr. Lewis was AWOL and refused to give any explanations as to where he was when he should have been at his post- the Emergency Operations Center.

The second was the purchase of EF Johnson radios for $113,000 for the Byram police department. Any such purchase over $100,000 MUST be approved by the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission. Mr. Lewis did not inform the board of this requirement nor did he seek permission from the MWCC before the county issued a purchase order for the radios. This website broke the story reporting no such permission was obtained. However, Mr. Lewis' dereliction of duty did not end with his failure to advise the board of the basic rules for such a purchase. Mr. Lewis also didn't bother to show up at the Wireless Commission when Hinds sought to obtain a retroactive approval for the purchase. The board members were kept waiting while employees tried to find someone from Hinds County to attend the meeting. Mr. Lewis never appeared at the meeting.

It should be noted that for the last year, Mr. Lewis has suffered from prostate cancer and the corresponding treatments. However, Mr. Lewis' illness was not mentioned today, nor did Mr. Lewis appear to defend himself before the board, although he was present earlier at the meeting. One can only hope Mr. Moore or someone with a similar background will take over the Emergency Operations Center.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am in know way taking Jimmie Lewis's side on this but before you can post something you should probably get the facts.

A. The E911 council approved the pruchase of Motorola radios for Bryam after Bryam was able to obtain WCC approval.

B. The board of Crooks not Jimmie Lewis change the vendor to EF so that the consultant Nathan Hargrove (who at the time was also an EF Johnson vendor) could get the sale of the radios though Bryam did not want EF radios and since the board change the order it is therefore the boards job to get WCC approval to change the Vendor!
Now as to the other issues I do agree Jimmie was never qualified but Graham and Anderson new that thats why the changed the Degree requirements for the JOB knowing that would disqualify some people!Now HE WANTS THE MAN THAT HE SAID WASNT BLACK ENOUGH TO HAVE THE JOB!!!!WOW

Kingfish said...

What part did I get wrong?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous,
KingFish was all over that story when it broke (here) and had the facts straighter than anyone else in the area media. What you wrote is true, and what he wrote is true, too. Following the E911 approval for Motorola radios, the BOS voted to approve EFJs w/o WCC approval (which they later tried to go back and get later). At that time, Lewis didn't inform the BOS of the requirement.

KaptKangaroo said...

Johnny come lately?

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that Mr. Lewis will be rehired on Monday.

Anonymous said...

Yes im sure Bennie spanked Dougs hand sent him to time out for doing the right thing. Leave it to Jimmie to go crying to BIG DADDY Bennie about losing his job that he isnt qualified to do.

Anonymous said...

HMMM INTRESTING IF HE HAS BEEN FIRED DOES HE HAVE TO RE APPLY SINCE ITS BEEN SAID THE JOB NEEDS TO BE ADVERTISED BY THE LEGAL DEPT

Anonymous said...

WHOMEVER U ARE THIS ANONYMOUS PERSON SHOW YOUR NAME DONT BE SCARED BECAUSE FOR ONE YOU DONT AND DID NOT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT JIMMIE LEWIS ROBERT GRAHAM WAS JUST MAD BECAUSE HE FIRED HIS DRUNK BROTHER PHIL FISHER IS JUST AS RACIST I FEEL FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CLINTON MISSISSIPPI AND THEY HAD MR DOUG ANDERSON VOTE ON THE SITUIATION AND KNEW HE HAD ALZEIMERS BUT THATS OKAY YOU ALL NEED TO TRY TO GET WHERE JIMMIE LEWIS IS AND THAT IS HEAVEN..... THANKS IN ADVANCE.....

Anonymous said...

YOU ANONYMOUS PERSON YOU NEEDS TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT A PERSON BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARD BECAUSE I KNOW YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT JIMMIE LEWIS AND ITS NOT YOUR PROBLEM NOR NO ONE ELSE PROBLEM THAT HE HAD CANCER APPARENTLY THEY KNEW WAT WAS GOING ON WITH HIM THEY KNEW HE WAS TAKING OFF... FAR AS ROBERT GRAHAM HE WAS ONLY MAD BECAUSE JIMMIE FIRED HIS DRUNK BROTHER, PHIL FISHER I FEEL FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN CLINTON MISSISSIPPI BECAUSE HE IS RACIST, AND THE LATE DOUG ANDERSON GOD REST HIS SOUL THEY KNEW HE HAD ALZHEIMER SO THEY KNEW HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON SO THEY PROBABLY TOLD HIM WHAT TO DO... NOW YOU TRY TO GET WHERWE JIMMIE LEWIS AT AND THAT IS HEAVEN BECAUSE BEING APART OF THE DEVIL'S PLAN SURELY IS NOT GOING TO GET YOU ALL THERE. AND WATEVER BEENIE DID FOR HIM WAS HIS BUSINESS IF YOU STOP BEING SO BROKE DOWN MAYBE SOMEBODY WILL HAVE YOUR BACK.....


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