The Fallout at PacCom: State Labor Complaints, Missing County Oversight, and Dispatched Workers in Limbo

Public records have confirmed that Pacific County 911 Communications Center (PacCom) Director Eric Cowsert was placed on paid administrative leave effective October 9, 2026.

The leave reportedly began following a PacCom Administrative Board meeting that morning, when County Administrative Officer Paul T. Plakinger handed Cowsert the formal notice.

Veritas Coastal obtained the formal letter issued to Cowsert via a public records request.

According to the document, Cowsert was sidelined because the County received multiple notifications from the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) regarding Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaints lodged against him, with leadership determining the matters required further examination. The letter notes that Cowsert is expected to remain available during regular business hours if requested and points him toward employee assistance resources while the review proceeds.

Rising Tension

Over the past few weeks, word has swirled about tensions between the Pacific County General Administration, the Pacific County Board of County Commissioners, and PacCom Director Eric Cowsert over the handling of the leave status for three PacCom dispatchers.

Officials reportedly still do not know the precise nature of the leave, which was initially described as a “criminal investigation.” Details have since emerged indicating the matter has allegedly transitioned to an “internal investigation.”

County officials told Veritas Coastal that they “have no clue” what is going on or if the case’s status has changed.

Crucially, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation—speaking strictly on the condition of anonymity—confirmed that the three dispatchers currently on leave are the exact same employees who initiated the labor grievances and unfair labor practice complaints that escalated against management.

According to those same sources, Cowsert independently hired a private investigator to handle the ‘internal investigation’ inquiry without telling county officials, risk management or the risk pool who insures the county.

Cowsert reportedly issued demands that the dispatchers agree to be interviewed under threat of termination—with explicit warnings that they would also be fired if they chose to stop or not comply during the interviews.

The situation initially stemmed from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office, which opened a criminal inquiry for reasons that remain unspecified.

County officials have confirmed they had no prior knowledge of a private investigator being brought in, and have received few, if any, details since the dispatchers were first placed on leave effective Sept. 17, 2026.

ULP Landscape

The administrative friction follows months of mounting workplace tension, which included heated verbal and procedural exchanges between Cowsert and the three dispatchers during labor discussions.

Formal complaints regarding conduct during those public sector labor negotiations have subsequently been filed with and reviewed by the Washington Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) under provisions governing collective bargaining (including standards similar to RCW 41.59.140).

PERC’s decision to allow the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaints to proceed means the state agency has determined the filings meet the threshold for a formal administrative review.

Under Washington administrative law, a ULP is not a criminal charge, but an administrative violation of public employment statutes. When PERC advances a complaint, it opens a formal fact-finding process to examine whether management or agency representatives interfered with, restrained, or coerced employees in exercising their protected collective bargaining rights.

Parallel to the ongoing PERC proceedings, the three dispatchers involved in the labor discussions were placed on the paid leave for the unspecified investigation.

Public sector labor law experts note that when administrative leave or secondary investigations intersect with active, PERC-approved ULP complaints, the actions routinely become focal points of the regulatory review.

PERC examiners investigate whether subsequent employment actions against participating workers constitute lawful administrative oversight or unlawful retaliation for protected union activity.

As this situation develops, Veritas Coastal will continue to provide subsequent coverage.

County officials declined to comment on the matter.