STURGIS, S.D. – The city of Sturgis has parted ways with Shawn Fisher as head of the Sturgis Ambulance Service.
In a release, the city stated Fischer is no longer employed by the city of Sturgis.
The release went on to say “this is a personnel matter, and our city policy is not to discuss personnel matters. We believe that it wouldn’t be fair to any of our employees to make personnel matters public.”
City officials say Geody VanDewater, Sturgis Police Chief and Public Safety Director, is overseeing the Sturgis Ambulance Service and is working to fill the void of Ambulance Director.
In a Facebook post today, Fisher posted a lengthy statement on the situation, saying back in December during budget hearings, she “let her emotions get the better of me” regarding proposed cuts to Advanced Life Support Services and the transport of an ALS patient, which violated HIPPA laws.
Fisher says she underwent HIPPA and leadership training, but was informed Thursday that she was being let go.
Fisher, in her post, also addressed a situation that came to light during this month’s Sturgis Council meeting that the city owed $22,000, which was medical funding received during the COVID pandemic. Fisher says she did not misappropriate funds and that the money was deposited into a grant account that she had no access too.
