Former ambulance director sues Jefferson County

FAIRFIELD – A former director of Jefferson County Ambulance is suing the county and demanding his old job back.

Brian Thomas, who was hired as the county’s first ambulance director in April 2023 before it became a county-run entity later that year, has filed a lawsuit in district court alleging that the county violated Iowa’s veterans preference statue when it terminated his employment. However, the nature of Thomas’s departure from the county is in dispute.

In his lawsuit filed on April 2, 2025, Thomas claims that one year prior on April 17, 2024, he was told he had to “resign or be fired,” and thus chose to resign. He claims that he later rescinded his resignation on April 24, 2024. Thomas claims that Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding informed him that his employment was terminated on July 12, 2024, and was not given a hearing pre- or post-discharge.

“Prior to terminating Thomas, the County failed to allege or prove that Thomas engaged in conduct constituting incompetency or misconduct as required by Iowa Code Chapter 35C [Iowa Veterans Preference statue],” stated Thomas’s lawsuit, filed by his attorney Michael Carroll of Des Moines.

Thomas is demanding to be reinstated as ambulance director and to receive full back pay and benefits, among other demands such as compensation for the damages he has suffered and payment of his attorney fees.

The Union reached out to Moulding to respond to Thomas’s lawsuit.

“Mr. Thomas‘s claims are completely meritless and without grounds,” Moulding wrote in an email to The Union. “No violation of veterans preference occurred because Mr. Thomas resigned. Veterans preference laws protect from termination. [He’s] simply off base legally.”

After learning of his decision to resign as ambulance director, The Union interviewed Thomas on May 3, 2024. In that interview, Thomas did not mention that he had rescinded his resignation on April 24, or state that he had been asked to “resign or be fired.” He indicated that, though he was stepping down, he would remain on administrative leave until July 12. During that time, he would work with then-base manager Judy Heisel to train her in the duties of ambulance director, since the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors named Heisel interim ambulance director after Thomas’s resignation.

In his interview with The Union, Thomas said he resigned from his post because it was difficult to fit in, and he didn’t feel accepted because he was an outsider. He also said that Heisel was well respected, competent, and had the experience necessary to take on the role of ambulance director if he chose to leave.

“She fits that role better than I ever could,” Thomas told The Union during his interview on May 3, 2024. “She is more organized, and she works well with the board [of supervisors]. She knows everybody in this community. Now that I’m out, I want to support her in her role.”

Heisel remained Jefferson County’s interim ambulance director until Joshua Hemminger was hired to fill the position on Aug. 1, 2024.

After learning of his lawsuit against the county, The Union reached out to Thomas to ask why he rescinded his resignation on April 24, 2024 and why he did not share that information at the time. Thomas declined to comment.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com

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