TDOT corruption revealed

Member Center

Share This Video

URL

Embed

Iframe

+ SHARE

Views:

News Articles

Posted 6:28 PM 9/6/2012 : New documents in city corruption case

TUCSON - New documents show five city employees have been disciplined in a city corruption case.

The City of Tucson released documents showing what some Department of Transportation employees were doing with taxpayer dollars. Investigators spent 11 months on the case and interviewed 100 city employees.

None have been criminally charged so News 4 is not naming the employees.

This is the breakdown, one man retired rather than face termination, two resigned, and two others were terminated.

City Attorney Mike Rankin says, "It's certainly a horrible situation. What I think is the bottom line is that we're dealing with it."

The investigation showed one employee was allegedly "engaged in favoritism and preferential treatment." He used "city personnel, materials and equipment for personal gain." He also used city money to build a "motorcycle pad that cost the city "$7,883."

The documents show another employee, while on duty, ordered employees to "grade and pave the parking lot of a church" that cost $1,004.00. He "misused city equipment, personnel and materials for personal advantage"

He also "chip sealed" roads to a cemetery costing the city "$17,043.34."

The documents also show another employee who wasn't scheduled to work filled two work vehicles with "$118.00" and $148.00" worth of fuel. He also worked on "private property jobs" while on the clock.

Most of these incidents happened while the city was struggling financially. There was even talk of cutting police and fire for lack of money. City Attorney Mike Rankin says, "That's what makes this particularly egregious ."

The city doesn't have a total for the costs yet, but officials say it's well into the six figures.

The question many are asking Daryl Cole, the Transportation Director is why it went on so long.

"Of course I wasn't here at that point and time it just didn't come to light obviously people were doing a good job otherwise it would've come to light a lot earlier," he said. He also says this type of behavior will not be tolerated. Cole also acknowledged the other city employees who were hard working individuals.

The Attorney General's office is deciding whether criminal charges will be filed.

City officials say there may be more employees involved. The investigation continues.