Hillsborough County’s emergency management director was placed on leave months ago amid an investigation that is still ongoing less than two weeks before the start of hurricane season.
Timothy Dudley Jr. — who saw Hillsborough through harrowing back-to-back hurricanes in 2024 — has been on paid administrative leave since March 13. But why the county is investigating him is unclear.
The county has not provided records related to why Dudley was placed on leave, citing an ongoing investigation. A spokesperson said that the county will release the records once a review is finished. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty has stepped into the role in the interim, the county spokesperson said.
The emergency director is the person in charge of bridging response gaps and setting priorities so that people are properly warned and evacuated in time.
They guide people’s decision making, said David Merrick, the director of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Program at Florida State University.
Disasters are unique in that several organizations that don’t typically interact — private and public — have to come together to keep people safe, Merrick said.
“They’re going to be the glue that holds it all together,” he said of emergency managers like Dudley.
Dudley, who has a salary of $152,000, could not be reached for comment. He was the director of emergency management during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, when the county endured flooded homes, businesses and streets from storm surge and record rainfall. The Tampa Bay Times has tried to reach Dudley through phone calls, messages and emails.
What does it mean to have such an encompassing role in limbo just a couple weeks ahead of the hurricane season?
“I mean, it’s not ideal, right?” Merrick said.
Local governments are mandated to have a comprehensive emergency management plan. The document is a north star during disasters, outlining staff roles and how decisions are made.
Hillsborough’s plan was last updated in 2024, and defines disaster responsibilities of each department, including emergency management. Responsibilities include creating and maintaining county disaster plans, coordinating shelters and giving out timely information to the public.
Typically in a larger county, like Hillsborough, there are other employees who can handle some day-to-day communications and responsibilities, Merrick said.
According to the county’s emergency plan, the only department with more outlined disaster responsibilities is fire rescue, helmed by the chief — the person now doing the job on a temporary basis.
It’s not uncommon for local governments to have their fire rescue chiefs also serve as an emergency manager, Merrick said.
In an interim role, Dougherty likely won’t take on new projects. More likely, he’ll be there to maintain everyday responsibilities, Merrick said.
“It’s certainly going to be more work for the chief, but it’s doable,” Merrick said. “Because in theory it’s going to be for a relatively short period.”
Much of the disaster planning has been done, and is something the fire chief or anyone else stepping into the role can fall back on, he said.
Hillsborough County hired Dudley in 2019 as the county’s director of emergency management after five years at Pinellas County as a senior emergency management coordinator, according to Dudley’s Linkedin profile.
He’d been lauded locally for his work.
A Hillsborough County article celebrating Black History Month stated that Dudley’s “commitment to leadership and service is apparent.”
About a year ago, Dudley received the Bill Horne Outstanding Public Administrator Award from the American Society for Public Administration. Horne was Clearwater city manager for 20 years before his death in 2021.
On praising Dudley’s service after receiving the award, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue wrote on Facebook that under Dudley’s guidance the county “navigated one of the most challenging hurricane seasons in recent memory.”
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