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**ELK POINT, S.D.** — The former 911 dispatch director for the Union County Sheriff's Office has filed a federal lawsuit against the county and Sheriff James Prouty, alleging she was unlawfully fired last year because she is a lesbian and because she reported the agency to a federal auditor over a security camera she says violated FBI policy.
Sara Beatty, of North Sioux City, filed the complaint Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota. The case (4:26-cv-04077-CBK) names Union County and Prouty — sued in both his individual and official capacity — and seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees, and a jury trial.
Beatty was hired in May 2015 and served as 911 director until her termination on April 30, 2025. The complaint says she was an "exemplary employee" under former Sheriff Dan Limoges, who died in February 2024, with no warnings or discipline on her record.
The CJIS camera dispute
The lawsuit centers on a video camera in the dispatch area that Beatty alleges runs afoul of FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) policy. According to the complaint, an FBI auditor previously required Union County to remove a camera from dispatch under Limoges. In December 2024 — after Prouty had been appointed sheriff — a camera was placed back in dispatch near the same location. Beatty says she told Prouty it violated CJIS policy and that he did not correct the issue.
In January 2025, Beatty contacted FBI CJIS auditor Kelli Erickson to report the camera. Around the same time, the complaint alleges, her duties began to be stripped.
Alleged loss of duties and termination
Beatty claims Prouty removed responsibilities she had held for seven years, including authority to approve dispatcher time-off requests, and revoked her access to timecards, personnel files, and county camera systems. According to the complaint, Beatty's wife — who also worked at the sheriff's office — similarly lost access she previously had. The lawsuit says no male or heterosexual managers had duties or access changed in the same way.
Beatty married her wife on March 16, 2025, and was terminated roughly six weeks later. The complaint alleges no reason was given at the time of termination, but that the county later cited her "negative attitude" — feedback Beatty says she had never received before being fired. The lawsuit states she was replaced by a heterosexual man.
## The claims
The complaint brings three counts: sex discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's 2020 *Bostock v. Clayton County* decision; wrongful termination in violation of public policy for her CJIS reporting; and sex discrimination under the South Dakota Human Relations Act. The EEOC issued a right-to-sue letter on March 6, 2026.
Beatty is represented by David C. Briese of Crary Huff, P.C., in Sioux City. Lisa K. Marso of Sioux Falls is listed as counsel for the defendants.
The allegations in a civil complaint represent only one side of a dispute and have not been tested in court. Union County and Sheriff Prouty have not yet filed a response.
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*Case: Beatty v. Union County, et al., 4:26-cv-04077-CBK, U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota.*