Citizens comment on dismissal of public safety director at Appomattox County Board of Supervisors meeting

At Monday's meeting of the Appomattox County Board of Supervisors, six county citizens spoke during the public comment period, voicing their frustrations, concerns and opposition regarding the recent dismissal of Bobby Wingfield, long-time director of public safety in the county.

Dozens of others showed up to show support for Wingfield, nearly filling the meeting room at the Central Virginia Community College complex in Appomattox.

"The Wingfield family is a salt of the earth family in this county. When you step on their toes, you step on our toes," said Monte W. Mays to the board. "Never in my 50-plus years in politics have I witnessed such a blatant and total disregard for respect and a total disregard for fairness during the Bobby Wingfield situation."

'We as citizens strongly oppose the firing of Bobby Wingfield and the lack of transparency during his firing," Mays added.

Barbara Williams, former circuit court clerk in Appomattox County, stated, "I worked with Bobby for five years of my 35-year term as circuit court clerk when Bobby was hired as the first 9-1-1 coordinator...He was a pleasure to work with...and I never heard anyone make any negative comments about him during that time."

"I really don't understand why, if Bobby was not performing his duties as he should, why was that not addressed in evaluation to at least give him a chance to improve after 19 years of working for the county and two years away from retirement," Williams added. "And then you choose to not even give him the opportunity to resign, but fire him."

Appomattox County Attorney Thomas Lacheney stated at the meeting that by law, personnel matters are confidential and protect the individual.

"Several of the citizens mentioned transparency," he said during a discussion with board members. "Personnel matters by state law and by definition are not transparent. I'm not sure what we could say that wouldn't potentially violate the confidentiality of the personnel system."

Find out more in the upcoming Feb. 28 issue of the Times Virginian newspaper. Pick up a copy or subscribe at www.timesvirginian.com/subscriber_services to view the full article in the e-edition version.