Union County 911 chief says sheriff fired her after an FBI report and marrying a woman
Sara Beatty, Union County's former 911 dispatch director, sued the county and Sheriff James Prouty in federal court on April 29, 2026. She says she reported to an FBI auditor in January 2025 that a dispatch camera Prouty had reinstalled violated FBI criminal-justice information rules, after which her duties and access were cut. She was fired around April 30, 2025, weeks after taking leave to marry a woman, and alleges she was replaced by a heterosexual man. She claims sex discrimination, including sexual orientation, under Title VII and state law, and wrongful termination. The county and Prouty deny the claims, say she was fired for a negative attitude and an inability to trust her, and say Prouty did not know of her camera complaint. The case is pending; Prouty remains sheriff.
Beatty says she told Prouty the camera violated CJIS policy and that he did not correct the issue.
South Dakota county argues it terminated woman for just cause
Beatty was not given a reason for her termination at the time.
Denies the claims; says Beatty was fired for a negative attitude and an impaired working relationship, not discrimination or retaliation.
Denies the allegations and asks the court to dismiss the case and award attorney fees.
No outcome recorded yet.