Washington County is pleased to announce the appointment of Raleigh Wellmann as Interim Director of the Washington County E911 Department. She will officially begin her duties on Sunday, March 1, 2026, and will serve in this role for the remainder of 2026.

Washington County has been without a permanent E911 Director since October 2025. During this time, Jerod Hartfield has served as Interim Director while the County actively worked to fill the position. Hartfield has consistently expressed that he is not interested in serving in the role on a full-time basis, and the County appreciates his service during this transitional period.

Throughout the past several months, Raleigh Wellmann has stepped up in a significant way, providing substantial operational and administrative support to ensure continuity within the department. Her leadership, institutional knowledge, and dedication to public safety have played a critical role in maintaining stability and performance within E911 operations. The County now looks forward to giving her the opportunity to further demonstrate her ability to fully lead and manage the department.

Washington County conducted two recruitment efforts for the Director position. The first search did not yield viable applicants. During the second recruitment process, the County extended a conditional offer of employment contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment requirements, compliance with applicable statutory and regulatory standards, and final approval by the Washington County Commissioners Court. Those conditions were not fully satisfied and based on the recommendation of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the County did not move forward with the appointment.

Despite leadership transitions, the Washington County E911 Department continues to perform at a high level. The department has experienced rising call volume while maintaining performance metrics that exceed national averages. This is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the entire E911 team.

Wellmann will serve as Interim Director through the end of 2026. This period will allow her the opportunity to continue demonstrating her leadership capabilities.

Washington County remains committed to ensuring that all leadership positions, particularly those related to public safety and emergency communications, meet all legal, regulatory, and professional standards. The safety of our citizens remains our highest priority.