Jeff Davis County Officials Silent on EMS Supervisor’s Reprimand as Activist Exposes Secrecy

In a shroud of secrecy, the Jeff Davis County Commissioners court recently reviewed a letter of reprimand behind closed doors during an executive session following their regular meeting on September 12. The outcome of this confidential session left the public in the dark as the contents of the reprimand letter were not disclosed.

However, citizen activist Melanie Blackman has brought this matter to light by obtaining a copy of the undisclosed letter and sharing it on a community chat forum on Facebook. With her commentary, Blackman raised serious concerns regarding the actions, or lack thereof, taken in response to the letter.

Melanie Blackman, a top contributor to the forum, exposed the details she had uncovered, stating, “On August 7th, Peggy Fonseca, the person currently in charge of the county’s EMS, was sent a Notice of Violation from the state for failing to perform life-saving interventions on a resident of Fort Davis on or around May 10th.”

Blackman continued, “On September 12th, this matter came up in executive session at the commissioner’s court meeting and no action was taken. An open records request provided this letter. I would like to know why this person hasn’t been placed on suspension or leave until the outcome of the investigation and consequences are determined. The county plans to approve her employment bond at tomorrow’s commissioners court meeting. Could this and should this be postponed?”

This revelation has sparked a renewed interest in the handling of Peggy Fonseca’s case and the transparency of county proceedings. As the community seeks answers, the county’s EMS services and the fate of Peggy Fonseca remain under a cloud of uncertainty, while Melanie Blackman’s diligent efforts continue to shed light on this issue.

In response to the proposed suspension, Peggy Ann Fonseca has the option to request an informal conference or seek an administrative hearing. The outcome of this investigation will have far-reaching implications, both for Fonseca and for the community’s trust in Jeff Davis County Ambulance Services.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Fonseca has the opportunity to respond to the complaint included in the NOV, which outlines two response options:

1. Option 1: Respondent admits to the allegation(s) described in the Department’s NOV and accepts the proposed disciplinary action. Respondent waives the right to an administrative appeal hearing and agrees to the issuance of a Department Order for suspension.
2. Option 2: Respondent does not admit to the allegation(s) nor accept the proposed disciplinary action outlined in the Department’s NOV and requests an informal conference.

Despite multiple attempts by this publication to reach Peggy Ann Fonseca for comment, contacting Jeff Davis County EMS via their listed phone number has proven challenging. Regrettably, no response was received, and there was no provision to leave a voice message.