Highlights:
-Background of controversy. Plaintiff more qualified. Other applicant was fired and reinstated twice but faced no background check when applying for job.
-Judge Reeves dismisses case and reasons why. Makes plaintiff appear to be engaging in conspiracy theories without presenting real evidence.
-Fifth Circuit reverses and provides substantial amount of evidence ignored by Judge Reeves
-Trial scheduled for August
-Editorial comments
-Copies of two decisions and links to evidence.
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| Colonel Don Berry |
Captain Chris Gillard was promoted from the position of Director of the HP Training Division in February 2012. Leftenant McMullin started her MHP career in 1987. She was assigned to the training division in 2000 and remained there until 2012- after she applied to the vacancy. She was promoted to Leftenant in 2005. She followed standard procedure and sent a letter of interest in the vacant position to Colonel Berry, DPS Commissioner Santa Cruz, and MHP Legal Liason Natalie Holmes on February 27, 2012. However, Colonel Berry tabled the letter as the job had not yet been "posted". Colonel Berry then informed the Leftenant on March 19 that he was assigning her to MHP HQ to train dispatchers. Thus, Leftenant McMullin went from training law enforcement officers in firearms, drug interdiction, K-9 patrol, and other areas of law enforcement to training dispatchers. Pay attention to that date: March 19.
Colonel Berry ordered the department to issue a position open notice on March 26, 2012, one week after the transfer of Leftenant McMullin. It stated applications would be accepted until March 30. However, the standard procedure apparently dictates that MHP sends a position open notice via email, mail, personal phone calls, and messages over the dispatch system. MS Pack testified he thought his notice was sent via email or mail to his home address. Leftenant McMullin testified she received no personalized notice. The department provided no proof that it sent her such a notice.
However, the department did claim in its discovery responses that it faxed the notice " to all troop dispatch centers for dissemination to all troopers including McMullin. However ( and this is an important fact),
the fax did not reach several locations. A fax confirmation sheet (stamped March 26, 2012 at 9:40 AM) shows that there was no transmission and/or incomplete transmission of the notice to seven locations, including the Ms Academy where Leftenant McMullin was working. *
*The transmission also failed to reach trooper locations in Starkville, Hattiesburg, and Gulfport. Master Sergeant Pack's letter of interest states that he was then working for the MS Bureau of Investigation, a location that received the fax notices. The only other applicant, James Walker, was then working for Troop C, another location that received the faxed notice."The Fifth Circuit opinion stated that the department ignored its own notification requirements and that there was "no evidence" that the notice was ever sent in any form of communication to Leftenant McMullin despite her written expressed interest in the job. MHP interviewed the two applicants on April 10. Leftenant McMullin was not interviewed. Colonel Berry told MS Pack the same day as his interview that he would be promoted to the position of LE-Director/Training (LE is Leftnenant.). Master Sergeant Pack became a Leftenant and Training Director on May 1.
Pack had a rather colorful history at the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. He was fired twice while at MHP. He was fired in 1995 for having sex with a confidential informant BUT he was reinstated because other officers who liked to have sex on the job were not fired. He was fired again in 2001 for um, "seizing cash from a potential target without accounting for the seizure", participating in sexually explicit behavior during a vacation in Florida, and not reporting drug activity while on said vacation. However, he appealed his dismissal and won reinstatement and back pay.
Colonel Berry actually testified that "he did not know that Master Sergeant Pack had been fired before he promoted him ...but Colonel Berry added that the prior terminations and misconduct would not have affected his decision.." (That is nice to know. Why even conduct background checks?)
A Captain has served as training director for at least twenty-five years. However, Colonel Berry sought to fill the position with a Leftenant (according to the notice.). Colonel Berry tried to say there were two positions- Leftenant and Captain- even though the Director has always been a Captain. No evidence was ever provided of showing the Training Director had been a Leftenant nor were there two director positions (see pate 9 of the 5th Circuit opinion below). The court used the words "manipulative reasoning to obfuscate the actual facts" on page 10.
Leftenant McMullin filled an EEOC complaint a month later. She sued DPS on January 31, 2013 after receiving permission from the EEOC to do so (as EEOC had taken no action for 180 days after the complaint was filed). Both sides engaged in discovery and then DPS filed a motion for summary judgment. Judge Reeves agreed with DPS and dismissed her lawsuit with prejudice on May 6, 2014. Translation: No need for a jury. This is a bogus case that should never have been filed. Please don't come back to this courtroom.
Judge Reeves said she did not create a genuine issue of material fact and thus was not entitled to a trial by jury. He said she did not apply for the position of Leftenant Training Director and pointedly refused to do so. He said she admitted in her deposition that she wanted a "promotional transfer" and was only interested in the Captain's position." He said that Sergeant Pack responded to a "position open notice" sent out to all DPS personnel. He ruled she made "arguments laden with conspiracy oriented details". The plaintiff argued that Colonel Berry promoted Pack to the Leftenant position so he could later promote him to the Captain position. The judge called this argument "conjecture" and said she must present "specific facts which are more than 'conclusion allegations and denials, improbably inferences, unsubstantiated assertions, and legalistic argumentation." The only thing missing was "please get lost and don't waste our time." Judge Reeves admitted Pack was acting as both interim Captain and Leftenant until a Captain was appointed.
Judge Reeves finished his drowning of Leftenant McMullin's claim with this tidal wave of dicta:
Defendants’ intentions are clear: MDPS sought to fill two separate positions, a Training Director Captain and a Training Director Lieutenant. As Berry explained in his sworn testimony, MDPS wanted to hire its Lieutenant before it filled in the Captain’s slot. See Berry Dep. at 33-4. Pack was hired as the Training Director Lieutenant and serves as the sole Training Director of the Highway Patrol’s Training Division until a new Captain is appointed. She was not considered for the position, because she did not apply for the Lieutenant position. Moreover, she was not interested in that position. Therefore, she has never been rejected. Accordingly, Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is hereby GRANTED.Leftenant McMullin did not take her courtroom beating lying down but instead appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge E. Grady Jolly and two other judges completely overturned Judge Reeves and sent the case back to him with specific instructions on how to conduct the case.
The opinion states there is no "direct evidence that" the plaintiff was denied a promotion because she was white. However, the court clarified that statement in the next sentence:
That is to say, the defendants expressed no overt, race-based hostility towards Leftenant McMullin; nor did they epxress any overt race-based support in favor of Master Sergeant Pack.
However, the court ruled there was
more than ample circumstantial evidence to create material issues of facts from which a jury could find that Leftenant McMullin was a victim of racial discrimination.
The court said she must establish a prima facie of discrimination and thus shift the burden of proving there was no such discrimination to DPS. The court said that the plaintiff was qualified for the position. However, it ruled there was "a sharp disagreement as to whether Leftenant McMullin applied for the Director's position and, relatedly, whether she was ever rejected for the position."
The court ruled that Colonel Berry caused a bit of confusion by his attempts to "obfuscate" as to whether there were either one or two director's positions. DPS has never stated there were two positions. The court said it appeared there had only been one director position until the current controversy. The court then points out:
the record lacks evidence that there was a vacancy in the "Leftenant" position. The only vacancy that can be inferred from the record- when viewing the record in favor of Leftenant McMullin- is the opening in the Captain-level Director's position that was created when Captain Gillard was promoted to a new position within the Department. Even Master Sergeant Pack assumed that he was applying for "the job" vacated by Captain Gillard. If Master Sergeant Pack was promoted to some other job, he does not seem to know it.The court states there was only one job opening and that the plaintiff discovered the vacancy despite "the department's failure to provider her access to the position open notice". The plaintiff applied for that position and Colonel Berry knew it. The court also decreed that a "factfinder" could conclude that the good Colonel ignored her interest in the position and "intentionally failed to schedule" her for an interview. The court did not say that is exactly what happened but that it was a question for a "factfinder" to determine and thus was a question for the jury. The court even said it would not have been that hard for the department to defend itself. Indeed, it stated the "burden was light" and it only had to provide "evidence of a non-race-based reason for its employment decision yet, it wholly failed to do this."
The court also said that the failure to check Pack's background was more evidence "of discriminatory motive based on race".
Leftenant McMullin filed a motion for a trial on May 6, 2015. Judge Reeves granted the motion on June 2. Judge Reeves scheduled a settlement conference to be heard by Judge Keith Ball on June 25. He also scheduled a trial for August 3.
Kingfish note: Make no mistake. The court shredded the ruling of the former president of the Magnolia Bar and raised several questions about his character in this case as he ignored key pieces of evidence. Background checks. What background checks?
The Commissioner should fire Colonel Berry. Either Cruz runs his department or he doesn't run it. There is plenty of evidence and testimony in the case to warrant discipline for the Director of the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The opening paragraph of the Fifth Circuit opinion says it all:
In this appeal from a summary judgment dismissing a complaint in a Title VII race-discrimination case, plaintiff Gayle McMullin presented evidence, which if believed by a jury, would show a fumbling, bumbling case of determined efforts to deny a promotion to McMullin.Sho' nuff.
Batch of evidence #1. There is some stuff here.
Batch of evidence #2.
Batch of evidence #3.
55 comments:
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is nothing but a bunch of racist, perverted, crooks. They are a disgrace to the entire State. If one ever pulls me over I will not exit my vehicle until a member of County Law Enforcement is on scene.
Good luck to you on that one. Hope I get to see the video!
If youre a female you better stay in the car until witnesses get there. The Highway Patrol in Mississippi is likely to rape you.
I thought Judge Reeves had a great reputation as a judge. Is this unusual for him to get over ruled?
What we have here…..is reverse racism. Instead of the fat white sheriff in the 1950's who told the black man to go to the back of the bus……we have blacks, ensuring the whites "know their place". Most have never had one day of discrimination ---- not like their parents and grandparents, but they're going to ensure they get their pound of flesh and buy into the victimization bullshit. Happens to me every time I have to go downtown, to do any paperwork (e.g. car tag). I now just do it all online if at all possible. If I don't have to set foot downtown, I don't.
2:20 must not have read the lead in - particularly the part about the races involved.
But, you had me at "Judge Reeves is black and a former president of the Magnolia Bar in Jackson." Reeves should NOT be allowed to preside over the trial that is required by his being over ruled. He would naturally and obviously want the plaintiff to lose, seeing as how he's already determined she has no case.
KF I'm confused on the Leftenant thing. Is that Colonels word or yours? Also there is no need for the Ms Highway Patrol. They are not true law enforcement officers. They are simply meter maids that write speeding tickets. They have no knowledge of real police work. Trust me on this. I have been in law enforcement since 1994 and have delt with many troopers. They are completely clueless as to real police work.
I am a border line racist, but on a dark isolated highway in Mississippi, I would much rather a Black MHP Officer pull me over for an infraction.
I once saw a MHP officer with a pack of ciggie's rolled in his shirt sleeve, how cool is that.
"Leftenant"
Methinks KF is a fan of the show "Sleepy Hollow". Or just likes the old British way of saying lieutenant.
"Leftenant" is better than "Lootenant".
5:20pm I am glad to hear your opinion about the MHP. Because the next time there is a major disaster or any type of civil unrest these "meter maids" will still come to your "Podunk" police departments aide. You sound like a typical wash-out from trooper school or maybe you had the good sense to know that you didn't have the guts or the man-hood to last two days in trooper school. So next time we come to the rescue your sorry butt we don't need your praise because that is our job.
Nothing to do with race. They don't want a woman in charge of a bunch of macho robot's. It would be demeaning to them.
6:47 – get over yourself. Your comment about “rescue[ing] your sorry butt” isn’t representative of Mississippians and is offensive to those you are paid to serve, and yes – you are a public servant, remember that.
You might also remind that female trooper from the last class who decided to warn us sorry civilians on her facebook page that she was “coming for us,” that she works for us as well.
These are two great examples of how troopers view those they are sworn to serve; and if this is how you are trained to interact with the public, maybe new leadership is a good idea.
So, all of this concern about MHP officers attacking motorist, does this mean they no longer meet "Johnny Trucker" behind the weigh station?
5:20 has just scratched the surface – it has been long established that the MHP “eats its own” and the MHP is the tail wagging the DPS dog; the vast majority of DPS employees are NOT troopers, but troopers hold many senior positions within DPS for which VERY few are qualified.
As far as the postings not making it to all interested parties – I’ve heard this has been a long standing issue within DPS and is so bad that some postings have even been hidden from potential applicants. Rules for posting vacancies are established by the State Personnel Board, correct? Why aren’t vacancies EMAILED to the entire department to ensure visibility of internal opportunities to anyone who may be interested, or doesn’t DPS know how to work the interwebs? Seriously, they fax job announcements? Doesn’t everybody in DPS have email, or are they that much behind the times?
I’ve also heard that well-qualified applicants are discouraged from even considering DPS; and those who do, and are hired, are quickly reminded that if you’re not a trooper, you don’t have any reasonable chance at advancement unless you’ve played the ass-covering game for one of your superiors (usually a trooper). One only needs to look at the qualifications for state law enforcement jobs elsewhere in the country and it is immediately apparent that MHP races to the bottom of the pool of applicants to find those who are willing to tolerate nearly six months of hazing, harassment and other bullshit only to write traffic tickets and (maybe) work wrecks.
The MHP gripes about shortages on the road – here’s an idea – empty out the offices filled with troopers in administrative roles and place experienced managers and leaders in those positions and let the MHP stay (or get back) in its lane (pun intended).
Bumbling and fumbling – yes; but on an institutional level…
Judging by the MHP officers I see around makes me think that steroids are standard issue in their mess kits. They are so pumped up their voices are just squeaks!!
A total and complete lack of leadership within MHP/DPS. Nothing more, nothing less.
Is the man's name Barry or Berry. Both are used in the story here.
That notwithstanding, who among you thinks a fair trial can be held by the jurist who has already concluded that the woman does not have a case. Now he must hold a trial, so says the appeal court. He's pissed and will not be an effective or impartial judge. Anybody doubt this?
"So, all of this concern about MHP officers attacking motorist, does this mean they no longer meet "Johnny Trucker" behind the weigh station?"
Since so many comments on this thread revolve around race why don't you remind the readers of the racial makeup of that pair, just to stir things up a little more? :-)
KF,
I do not see anywhere in the 5th Circuit opinion where Judge Reeves's character is questioned by the Court. Where are you reading that in the opinion?
@6:47 I work for a department in the metro area,a very large department in fact. Not a small one. Secondly after Katrina came through the MHP worked traffic while law enforcement helped the coastal departments patrol and answer calls. Third I have never had any desire to go to meter maid school. Remember I am a law enforcement officer doing work you know nothing about. And how nice of you to not disagree with me about yall being nothing but traffic cops(meter maids). Oh the times that one of yall had to be called out at 0100 hrs for a wreck and are mad at us for not working it. That's y'all's job traffic man. The only thing you have to do plus write tickets.
I believe it was a crooked white cop taking it from a black trucker. MHPs finest.
This isn't unique for DPS - a friend of mine heard that a woman was told that she wouldn't be a good candidate for a job, just because she was a woman. I'm no lawyer, but I think that's probably illegal.
Maybe the time has come to either break DPS up and have MHP concentrate on whatever it does (nobody seems to know for sure), or appoint a real leader to figure out this mess.
What is the true purpose of the slick looking SUVs so many MHP people are driving? Are they hauling flares and blow-kits or just window-tint-checking-devices?
In addition to steroid use, the main requirements now are being able to negotiate a U-Turn and write fairly decently on a ticket.
Where is Anderson on this one? One would think he couldn't wait to comment on it. Wait, its a reverse discrimination case. Never mind, hehe.
Good attempt at race-baiting kf. You forgot to tell your readers that everyone involved except the victim is male. This could easily be more sexist than racist. In mentioning Judge Reeves' affiliations did you find that he was a member of an all male org.? He commenters on this site dont really need any help evoking race.
Because the pleadings kept mentioning the race.
9:49 -- If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and walks like a duck……it is a duck!!! Racism is EXACTLY what the entire suit was about. I didn't see any mention of sexism. If this had happened NOW in Jackson, with white people substituted for blacks, and vice versa ---- it would be on national news. Racism is racism --- you're just not prepared to deal with it. Drive on KF!!!!
Is McMullen the one at the Capitol that Donna runs around with causing problems? They wonder why DPS has such a problem with state leadership......
Hey KF - any chance of chasing down the claims in 8:57's post? It would be interesting to see how many troopers are performing office jobs...
And while you're at it, I wonder how difficult it would be to see how many retired troopers have come back to DPS to double dip the state's retirement systems?
It used to be that the Highway Patrol was a wing of the Governor's Office and he really was directing them in political investigations, intelligence, etc. Same for the state narcotics.
God forbid Feel Brant would have the authority to direct the MHP to investigate his political opponents. Are you shittin' me? It's bad enough Feel can cruise our highways at 86mph on his way to football games.
Obviously the State Personel board has nothing to do with the goings on a DPS. Its the buddy system there. Phil put his personal security agent as Deputy under Berry. Santa Cruz's son was promoted to an office job. His cousin was promoted to spokesman for DPS. Gayle Mills was chief of staff and paying her family unlawfully. People are promoted if they are a buddy.
The last ten to fifteen years the façade of MHP has been exposed as just that, a façade. The officers comment earlier is typical of the brainwashing MHP does to its employees. You can tell a highway patrolman who has prior law enforcement experience within ten minutes of talking to one compared to the one plucked from a furniture factory.
@ 7:13 - the state auditor's office takes care of the politically-driven investigations, and guess who their chief investigator is/was...
Back in the 1990s I heard that there were two standards for the MPH written application test due to a requirement that all cadet classes were required to be racially mixed at a certain %. The minimum standard test score for a white applicant was 90% and for black applicants 70%. If this is true, it would explain many of the problems in the agency, if all applicants were not held to the same standard and many substandard applicants eventually graduated the MHP Academy and arw now in leadership positions.
11:12 - understood, but IQ, integrity and race are not at all related. Irrespective of race, I know a few people who are challenged in the IQ area, that I would trust my children's life with, on the other hand; there are some very smart folks I know that are not at all trustworthy.
The point is, is that this kind of behavior has been the norm at DPS for some time, and because it isn't dealt with, a certain level of tolerance is expected on the part of the rank and file. This lowers the bar for the entire organization. These men and women love to tell everybody how elite they are, but no matter how often that is drilled into their heads, the only perception of their integrity that matters is that of the public. The fact of the matter is that DPS management knew of these problems and did nothing to correct them, all the while damaging the organization's reputation and destroying morale within the ranks.
For an agency with a budget close to $200 Million and oversight over federal funds, not to mention the responsibility they have, they should have never been allowed to get this far out of whack. It may be time to split up this kingdom or look for a real leader.
I have donated to the Ms. State Troopers Association for several years ( at least 15),but never again. I was just told by a trooper he was heading to their annual conversation being held in Pickwick,Tennessee. TENNESSEE? Is there not nice places in OUR state to hold this event? The Answer is yes ! If you don't believe me ask the states Department of Tourism.I told him to tell Lt. McMullin their "President" they have gotten their last dime from me! The money I donated was earned in this state and the least their President could do is contribute it back into the states economy. When asked why it's being held in another state he said " She's pissed of at the 5thFloor (administration)and she wasn't going to have it on the coast. Lt. that's petty! Maybe your pettiness is another reason you weren't promoted. Once she's gone I will start my donations again. I cannot and will not contribute to her vendetta. I have no say so in what problems they may have at the MHP(and don't care to)but I can make sure my money isn't take out of the hands and paychecks of the people of Mississippi. My final words on this matter is GROW UP!
What's comical is the goobs who keep paying to the Trooper Fund and pasting all those decals across their rear window. I know somebody who got one of their caps for donating and he keeps it on his dashboard beside the Trooper Fund sticker above his inspection sticker. Really? All this crap is like an invitation to find a beer between your knees.
Well I'm not getting into the racist discussion- but- from time to time I've needed MHP and have been treated with utmost Respect by those of another race from me--Very Professional. They are no different than any other Group of people, some Very Professional-some exercising their Authority.
Just my personal opinion, but I just read every comment posted and accomplished nothing but some bitter thoughts. First, most of the people ranting on here really do not have a clue what is going on. You are basing your opinions on what you have "heard". Unless you are a trooper with the MHP and you have been in the loop of this entire case, you cannot speak on what is truly going on. In saying that, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. I just ask that you please don't stoop down to believing everything you hear. Agreed that leadership is an issue, and I hope and pray it can get back on track. I personally know a lot of MS troopers. Some are some of the best men and women you could ever meet. They do their job because they want to save lives and make a difference. Others may be doing their job for the wrong reasons, but is that not the case in every aspect of our society. Some people are upholding citizens, while others are questionable. The bottom line is... Let's all stop getting caught up in he said she said and act like we have the answer to everything. If you are a believer I ask that you simply say a prayer for all law enforcement men and women that put their lives on the line for us every day, come to our rescue after a wreck, or lock up a drunk driver that could have killed me or you. Also please pray for the leadership of all enforcement to always do what's right. I hope and pray MHP get's back on track, and I ask that everyone else simply support the same cause.
@12:57 - These comments represent much more than bitter thoughts, they strike to the core of accountability and integrity in what's been billed as the state's finest law enforcement agency. As is true with most situations such as this, the facts and allegations laid out in the court documents are most probably the proverbial tip of the iceberg and are an indication of deeper organizational issues within the department of public safety and highway patrol.
State agencies in general, and in this case, public safety seem to have a real aversion to dealing with problem employees. I'm sure there are "problem children" at every agency, but if they are not disciplined appropriately the entire government enterprise suffers. This takes shape qualitatively as a lack of confidence in those providing vital services, and more quantitatively in the financial consequences of poor leadership and management (i.e. lawsuits and turnover), and the taxpayer is ultimately stuck with the bill for ineffective government.
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who is more pro-law enforcement that I am; however, I also believe in holding people accountable for their actions. In my business, I deal with issues immediately and all of my employees know that the consequences of improper behavior come swiftly, consistently, and fairly.
Integrity and Leadership inside DPS/MHP is a huge issue.
It is a fact that if you’re a married State Trooper with your office located at DPS/MHP HQ on Woodrow Wilson, does this mean you can have sex in the stairwell with another employee, the answer is yes and when you’re caught, you get promoted! Everyone at MHP, along with the 5th floor know about the stairwell incident and also about the famous bang-bang room located in the basement. It’s the love shack of MHP HQ’s.
Leadership knew about the inappropriate behavior of both parties in the stairwell but still allowed the State Trooper to be promoted. Once again, both the Colonel and Commissioner of MHP know about these situations and choose to do nothing about it. Again, integrity and leadership inside DPS/MHP is a huge issue within DPS/MHP. I am hoping things can get turned around soon.
9:20 - don't jump to conclusions, that stairwell performance may have been part of the interview process, and the bang-bang room may just be a more private option (better than a weigh station) for those troopers "working" with truckers.
Why so hateful??
11:27 - Not hating at all
Guess it worked for him, but no so much for her. He got promoted and she went back to work. At least that affair was not employee/director like another. Sounds like the bang-bang room is getting plenty of action with all the interviews going on. Do they teach this behavior in patrol school?
10:52, please note sarcasm...
That employee/director affair is widely known and is probably just a new kind of MHP mentoring program; by the way its father's day this weekend, right?
Highway patrol cadets are brainwashed into thinking they can do no wrong; and if they do (as evidenced by Pack's history of indiscretions and improper activity) they'll have top cover and there will be no punishment for bad and even illegal behavior. Whether or not you know or like McMullin, her case has merit and the light is being shone on how poorly the MHP is running the Department of Public Safety.
From the documents provided, it is obvious that there is no rhyme or reason as to how decisions are made at DPS; and once ineptitude is uncovered, rather than having some integrity and owning the problem, ridiculous excuses are made in an attempt to justify certain actions. Problems simply "disappear" either because of political connections or leadership's complicity in creating the issue.
New leadership, coupled with an independent management review and ongoing oversight are viable first steps to begin the process of restoring the agency's reputation and public trust, and solve what appear to be long-standing, institutional issues.
Sorry DPS, this is not going away - Mississippi deserves better.
http://www.kingfish1935.blogspot.com/2014/01/state-auditor-releases-dps-report.html
State Auditor Stacey Pickering zinged the Department of Public Safety in the results of a performance audit released a few minutes ago but found no money was misspent. The report said DPS had very sloppy record keeping and the comptroller "lacked sufficient skills and experience" to manage DPS finances.
Anybody remember this report .... and they still have a job. I wonder how many times they have been to the bang-bang room or stairwell.
Another comment concerning the above post ... Made Jan 16, 2014
One issue is how the Comptroller was hired for her position. Rules certainly were not followed. No one was interviewed she was just given the job as controller.
*A real interesting fact. The current comptroller is one of LTC Gale Mills best friends and they live down the road from each other. And you wonder why is was hired. Apparently not because she was qualified according to the State Auditor.
Thanks for bringing that report back into the spotlight; I wonder if any of the recommended actions have been given any consideration. Probably not - these are the kinds of inefficiencies that create opportunities for theft and fraud that are not discovered for long periods of time. Of course there was no finding of misspent funds - remember who works at OSA.
What other agency do you know of that has such a lack of talent that it has to rely on former employees to watch the books? I would also presume that the comptroller takes the stairs quite often.
"Lacked sufficient skills and experience" in DPS-speak means that person should go to the top of the list for the next promotion.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/06/19/former-mhp-trooper-charged-with-manslaughter/28986021/
While the manslaughter case linked by 11:20, the several cases of sexual misconduct (including statutory rape), domestic violence, and fiscal mismanagement issues faced by the highway patrol are all troubling incidents for which individuals are responsible, and the permissive culture of the organization must change. They don't at all seem consistent or professional in their application of state policy or even their own internal procedures.
I seem to remember some time ago a homeland security guy was charged by the state auditor for using his state car for personal trips, it would be hard to believe that this is not still going on; and wasn't there a trooper who parked his car at a store in Jackson, and it was either broken into or stolen while he was off having sex with someone's wife? He just got reassigned...
So I guess the difference is if you're a state trooper you can do what ever the hell you want, and if you're not, you get prosecuted and/or fired.
By the way, exactly what does it take to get fired by the department of public safety if you're a trooper?
The way it is now is that the Colonel of the highway patrol has to be a meter maid whoops I meant trooper but the commissioner can be anybody else.
Wow! Can't say nothing nice keep your mouth shut!
Does anyone have a contact for Office of Justice that the Juvenile Jail monitoring division at Public Safety falls under? I have pictures of OJP state vehicle that is regularly used for personal use. Pictures at Planet Fitness and at Kroger.I guess he needs to work out after he eats.
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