Update: County terminates Lake EMS contract due to ‘inexcusable, irresponsible’ actions

In a 6–1 vote, the Columbus County commissioners voted Monday night to authorize county staff to terminate its service contract with Lake Waccamaw EMS Auxiliary, citing an incident involving the now-former chief allegedly discriminating against Hispanic staff members at a Mexican restaurant.

“Mr. [Shannon] Worrell and his fellow rescue squad members’ actions that were witnessed by customers in the restaurant and recorded on a 40+ minute video were inexcusable, irresponsible, and in conflict with the county’s antidiscrimination policies,” a Wednesday statement by Columbus County government said. “Since this incident involved multiple individuals from the Lake Waccamaw Fire and Rescue Auxiliary, Inc. organization, the Board of Commissioners decided to exercise its right to terminate its contract with the organization and replace it with a different service provider within the county.”