Firearm in Center, Info Leaks Lead to Resignations

Three former Ralls County (Mo.) 911 center employees are facing criminal charges involving the discharge of a dispatcher’s personal weapon inside the comm center, the disappearance of video surveillance tapes and allegations that a dispatcher warned relatives they were wanted by sheriff’s deputies. In addition, a former dispatcher claims she was effectively fired when she tried to alert the county’s 911 board of the misconduct she had observed. Court documents obtained by KHQA-TV describe the incidents involving former center director Laurie Means, and dispatchers Jared LaForce and Steven McLaine. Means resigned in June after the sheriff’s department began an investigation into the allegations, while LaForce and McLaine resigned in July. The accusations centered around LaForce bringing a firearm into the comm center and shooting a mirror on the wall. Means witnessed the incident, but covered it up—literally—by buying paint and spackle, and filling in the bullet hole in the wall. Later, surveillance video of the shooting incident disappeared, the investigation found. LaForce is also under investigation for twice texting a relative that police were enroute to make an arrest. The sheriff’s department have released probably cause and search warrant documents in the case with more details. Also read news stories about the incidents here and here.