GUNTERSVILLE — Marshall County Sheriff Phils Sims is facing allegations of political retaliation against a high-ranking employee.
Major Jason Windsor, the Marshall County Sheriff's Office's Chief of operations, has accused Sims of retaliation and adversely affecting his employment with the county. The two met on December 17 with their attorneys to present their case to the County Personnel Board.
Jason Windsor claims he was stripped of his primary job responsibilities and placed in a less desirable role in retaliation for his wife's actions. Penni Windsor, vice chair of the personnel board, voted against a measure the sheriff brought before the board in February.
At that meeting, Penni Windsor and former board attorney Jeff Mclaughlin disagreed with the sheriff's interpretation of state and local law regarding training non-sworn corrections officers. Windsor was the lone "no" vote against the sheriff's request.
During the grievance hearing, Jason Windsor's attorney, Gina Goggin, cited an article by The Sand Mountain Reporter regarding the February meeting. In the article, Penni Windsor commented on her disagreement with the sheriff and the other board members for not taking the recommendation of Mclaughlin, who resigned as a result.
Coggin suggested that Penni Windsor's vote and comments to The Reporter led the sheriff to retaliate against Major Windsor. However, Sheriff Sims said that was not the case.
Represented by County Attorney Clint Maze, Sims admitted to altering Major Windsor's job duties but not out of retaliation or disciplinary reasons.
When Sims took office in 2019, he promoted Jason Windsor from lieutenant to major with the title of chief of operations. Sims said he placed Jason Windsor in charge of court, communications and patrol as his primary duties.
In July, Sims and Chief Deputy Willy Orr met with the major to discuss changing his job duties, removing him from court, communications and patrol and placing him over training fleet vehicle maintenance and inventory.
Sims said Major Windsor had been a valued team member but had room to improve, as did all his employees. Sims and other leadership staff voted Jason Windsor "Officer of the Year" in 2023 to acknowledge his contributions and growth. However, Sims said it was also a tool to motivate further improvement.
He said Jason Windsor had been the subject of multiple complaints from other deputies and staff and had a history of being difficult to work with. Sims said he preferred to give a "good ass chewing" to address behavioral issues rather than file an official disciplinary action in an employee's file as previous sheriffs had done. Coggin argued that some complaints against the major resulted from him employing the same stern leadership style as the sheriff.
"I don't cuss my deputies," Sims said.
Sims also said he supported Investigator Robert Fann's campaign for Penni Windsor's board seat — which is chosen by popular vote of the county employees — and allowed pro-Fann campaign signs around the sheriff's office bearing the sheriff's official approval. However, Sims said he added his written approval to the signs after Jason Windsor had ripped down previous postings. Sims said he would have allowed signs for Penni Windsor's campaign if asked.
1819 News was unable to attend the entire hearing, which lasted several hours, but according to others in attendance, Jason Windsor testified that the staff had been told not to tape or punch holes in the newly renovated jail walls and that there were dedicated places, such as a bulletin board, to hang signs and notices. He said that the signs he took down were prohibited places, and he did not remove them for political reasons or his wife.
1819 News reached out to Coggin for additional comment but did not receive a response.
Maze argued that since Jason Windsor still had the same job title, rank and pay, there was no grounds to accuse the sheriff of retaliation or adversely affecting his career. However, Jeff Mclaughlin disagreed.
While on the stand at the hearing, the former personnel board attorney argued that given how significantly Major Windsor's job duties were altered, the sheriff should have first gotten the personnel board to approve an updated job description. His failure to do so "seemed like a violation" of the board rules and local act, Mclaughlin said, describing it as an "effective demotion."
Sims and Maze argued that since the current job description includes "other related duties as assigned," he did not need board approval for changes to the duties and that the description should remain the same since the major could be placed back into his old roles at any time.
The board went into executive session and adjourned without announcing a decision. The board has 15 days from the hearing to rule. Depending on the decision, Jason Windsor may have the opportunity to appeal.
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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