Washoe County Manager Caught Drinking At Local Bar While on Medical Leave

Washoe County Manager Eric Brown celebrated Halloween last night by having drinks with his wife at a local haunt in Sparks. The eyewitness, who first noticed Brown’s sports car with personalized plates parked in front of the Red Hawk Golf and Resort, took photos of the Browns inside at the bar “David’s Grill” for substantiation. (see below) The eyewitness, and others employed in the county, confirms that David’s Grill is popular with the Browns as they frequent it regularly to have cocktails.

Having drinks with your wife while enjoying a NFL game isn’t news, but what is news is that Brown took a reported earlier than expected medical leave on October 28 due to contracting pneumonia “last week.” We’re not doctors, but having a drink while on antibiotics for a diagnosis of pneumonia would likely be against any doctor’s orders. We cannot verify that Brown’s drink does have alcohol, however, pneumonia is a serious condition that can require hospitalization, antibiotics, and/or an extended period of rest–rest that is not found at a bar.

For background: on October 28, the Globe reported that Brown scheduled a month-long, planned medical leave for a “medical procedure” through November 29 during early voting and the general election. In his capacity as County Manager, Brown oversees elections and reports to Chairwoman Hill and the board.

On October 30, the County suddenly changed their original statement to add that the planned medical leave was scheduled after early voting and the general election, however Brown had contracted pneumonia “last week” and needed to extend his medical leave to “take time to recover ahead of his procedure.” According to a second statement issued by County Spokesperson Bethany Drysdale:

[Brown] did not originally plan to be out of the office over the General Election, and had scheduled a medical procedure for later in November. However, last week he contracted pneumonia and was instructed by his doctor to take time to recover ahead of his procedure.

“We tell our employees that it’s ok to get sick and take time for family and use their leave, and I’m going to do exactly that,” Brown said. “I need to listen to my body and to my healthcare provider so I can return to the job I love. This is why we promote cross-training of our employees and offer professional development – we have built a deep bench of professionals across our organization.”

Was Brown listening to his body and his healthcare provider on Halloween night and recovering at a bar? If that is the case, we need the name of his healthcare provider.

On social media, the eyewitness demanded that the press report on this flagrant and questionable behavior, and upon identification and confirmation from multiple people employed within the county and the time stamp of the photos, the Globe obliged.

The Globe received an email from a county employee on October 30 that read:

Very nice to hear about our County Manager taking a leave of absence through the news.. nothing in advance to the employees? Still nothing as of today?

Very disappointing and disgusting level of respect to his fellow employees.

I mean we don’t need details .. which I’m sure we won’t get.. but to find out this information via the news? .. just lovely.

The eyewitness also demands that Chairwoman Alexis Hill investigate and review Brown for “taking advantage of the county and its residents.” We concur.

The two statements issued by the county are suspect. The subsequent behavior by Brown while on extended medical leave to recover from pneumonia is suspect.

If the county has built a “deep bench of professionals” across the county, the county can act professionally by opening an investigation to provide transparency to the public, county employees, and the press. Anything less is suspect.

The Globe will continue to follow and update this story.