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Mystery Surrounding Emergency Services Leadership Change Prompts Questions from Public

February 14th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Allegany County’s new director of emergency services says he can’t comment on the circumstances that led to the  abrupt early retirement of the department head; and one division chief being terminated.  James Pyles, retired Maryland State Police major, was hired last week to head the department which had been led for many years by Dick Devore as director and  Robert Pattison second in command.  In mid January, with little in the way of a public announcement, Devore retired. His early retirement came a week after Pattison was fired. Pyles said that since this is a personnel issue, he is not at liberty to comment. He added- however, without elaborating- that if there are any criminal overtones, there will be a criminal investigation. While speculation surrounding the change has been rampant- the county commissioners have been tight lipped about the situation- even though  they have been asked to comment during several recent public sessions. Kenneth Wilmot is a frequent attendee at commissioners meetings and he says the public deserves to know exactly what transpired…

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