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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Washington County ambulance director departs
Reasons behind Jeremy Peck’s 16-month paid leave, departure, remain unclear
WASHINGTON, Iowa — After 16 months on paid leave, Washington County Ambulance Director Jeremy Peck was removed from the county’s payroll Tuesday morning in a unanimous vote with no discussion, sandwiched between a flurry of eight unrelated change requests from the department.Peck was first placed on a one-month unpaid leave in October of 2022 and ordered to undergo human resources training, but on Nov. 1 of that year was instead placed on paid leave, pending investigation of an unspecified issue which county officials remain unwilling to disclose.
Since then, the county has continued to pay Peck’s $135,000 salary and benefits, based on budget documents acquired by The Southeast Iowa Union.
Washington County supervisors and Peck all declined to comment on Peck’s departure.
Peck was hired in 2020 and oversaw the service’s transition from a private to county-run entity. He started a Basic Life Support crew to grapple with paramedic shortages and boosted the ambulance service’s revenue through non-emergency transfer calls.
The circumstances surrounding his suspension, and now termination, remain unclear.
Complaints, legal issues
In late 2022, most employees of the Washington County Ambulance Service signed a letter calling for a “vote of no confidence” against Peck.
Paramedic Mike Freel read it aloud during a Washington County supervisors meeting, where he claimed the director had created a work environment that was “highly toxic,” with a “complete lack of transparency and accountability,” that left employees afraid of workplace retaliation.
Since that day, supervisors have held at least eight closed sessions in order to “discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent.”
While the specific content of those sessions remains unknown, several happened at meetings attended by representatives from Hopkins & Huebner, a consultant the county hired in 2022 “to provide legal advice on employment issues” at the ambulance department, according to meeting minutes.
The Union filed public record requests on Feb. 27 and March 5, seeking copies of any mediation agreements, legal settlement records, documents indicating a reason for Peck’s resignation or termination and legally required communications between the former ambulance director and other staff.
County Attorney Nathan Repp said in response the county had no disclosable records but said “any potential settlement agreements as requested … would be public once that settlement agreement was finalized.”
Additionally, three ambulance department staff members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told The Union the agency was currently under investigation by state and federal officials for its documentation practices during Peck’s tenure.
Back the Blue’ law
In total, just over 500 days passed between the county’s first attempt to suspend Peck as its ambulance director and ending his employment.
Board of Supervisors Chair Richard Young declined to comment at length but said the delay was largely attributable to Iowa’s “Back the Blue” Act, passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2021.
That law amended Chapter 80F of the state cde, with provisions that added legal protections for police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and other emergency response professionals.
What’s next?
Young said the county would start moving to select a new director as soon as possible, but said he expected the process to take several months.
“We’ll have to advertise and do interviews, all that stuff,” he said. “I would like to see it advertised nationally, not just locally, so we can get the best candidate for Washington County.”
Since December, Katrina Altenhofen has served as the interim director of the ambulance service, doing double duty between that role and her job as the head of Hospice of Washington Conty.
Others have reported struggles, however, to grapple with ongoing uncertainty about the county agency’s long-term boss.
The Washington County EMS Advisory Council’s 2023 and 2024 annual reports issued only one recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, asking them to, “provide the Washington County Ambulance Service with consistent, permanent leadership structure and support.”
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
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