Bullitt County Animal Shelter director indefinitely suspended after video surfaces

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Bullitt County official has been taken off the job over accusations that he made racist and sexist remarks, as well as claims that he mistreated employees, and the animals he was supposed to care for.

WDRB's Valerie Chinn uncovered the video that led to the suspension. An undercover camera captured Bullitt County Animal Shelter director and animal control officer Jimmy Miller's comments -- and just hours after we showed the video to officials, he was on indefinite suspension.

We showed the video that an employee secretly recorded in the shelter to Bullitt County Deputy Judge Lisa Craddock and County Attorney John Wooldridge.

They refused to talk to us on camera, but just hours later, told us that Miller is suspended because of alleged violations of the employee handbook.

Craddock says she previously talked to Miller about his professionalism earlier this month regarding his tone of voice, but says he denied using racial slurs.

"We've had a lot of calls and emails from concerned citizens who have issues with the animal shelter," she said. "There again, some of those people, I have contacted them to ask, 'What are your specific issues?' It's the same thing, what I've been told, or I have heard what it says on Facebook -- anybody can put anything on social media."

Craddock did not know a video existed until WDRB informed her about it.

Employee Delsie Williams recorded hours of video saying she wanted to document how she, others, and the animals are treated. After Williams and Miller are caught on camera fighting, several minutes later, he tells another employee he made a mistake hiring.

Miller: "I made a bad mistake hiring her."

Miller: "Bad mistake."

Employee: "Women."

Miller: "I should have never hired one over here."

Williams also accuses Miller of inhumanely euthanizing pets.

"I've been in there and seen a dog left in a garbage bag in front of the freezer, and when I asked why, they told me because it was still breathing," Williams said.

We also showed the video to Bullitt County Jailer Martha Knox, the apparent focus of one remark. In one segment of the video, this exchange is heard:

MILLER: I thought I've seen [EXPLETIVE] Knox's car riding around with no sign on it.

EMPLOYEE: Really?

MILLER: Yep, pretty sure it was her.

"I feel like it hurts the county when it gets out, and that's my big concern," Knox said, after reviewing that portion of the video. "[It] bothers me, but you have all kinds of people everywhere, doesn't matter where they are, where they come from."

The remark is just one of the alleged violations that forced officials to take Miller off the job, who we could not reach for comment. This is another exchange contained in the video:

EMPLOYEE: "I think they stuck that white one outside."

MILLER: "Which one's barking now, that black one?"

EMPLOYEE: "The black one."

MILLER: "I'll stick his [EXPLETIVE] outside too."

Bullitt County officials will determine Miller's employment during a fiscal court meeting on Tuesday.

"It could be addressed from anywhere from reprimand up to termination," Judge Craddock said.

A previously scheduled public meeting to talk about the shelter Tuesday afternoon has been canceled.