DPD officer eyed for massive overtime bill; Facebook claims she's just "working too much"

So having dinged local TV newsers for not giving the full background on the Haskell Properties/"Fireball" White mess out on Boone Street earlier this week, credit's due WRAL's Erin Hartness for breaking the news on Friday(*) that Durham P.D. officer Alesha Robinson-Taylor drew almost $60,000 in overtime last year -- 20% more than she made on her $52k base annual salary.

WRAL notes that a "citizen email" to city manager Tom Bonfield brought the manager's attention to the matter last week; Bonfield tells 'RAL that City auditors are looking into the matter -- that's an investigation happening through the central city government, not the Police Department.

Auditors are trying to determine if the overtime hours were approved and documented or if they were entered into the system illegally.

"Whether it's tough times or good times, there is no place for fraud, abuse, waste, or mismanagement in local government, in the city of Durham's government or any place where we are entrusted with the public's money," Bonfield said.

Topping the list: $8,000 in OT filed in December 2008 (8 hours or so for every calendar day in the month, WRAL notes), with an implication in WRAL's online edition of the story that work-from-home may be authorized for the position.

Robinson-Taylor didn't have any comment on the story for WRAL, but a Facebook profile that matches her name and Durham notes for her activities: "Working Too Much."

One would suppose you'd have to be to put in for that much OT. Hey, you could call it corroboration for that nearly $60,000 overtime bill -- though one expects City auditors are going to be looking for something a wee bit more, er, formal than that.

(Free social media advice: if the media is running allegations of excessive overtime, might be a good idea to take "Vacations" off your interests list and to un-friend "eLUXURY.com." Hey, we're just sayin'.)

(* - I'm adding a caveat here that I'm assuming this was broken at 'RAL -- since I can't find it on the Herald-Sun's new web site.)

Comments

[Moe]

So she worked 16 hours on christmas day...? Wow...
110k in salary.... I think im in the wrong line of work....
You can hire two full time officers....

[Eugene Brown]

All of this begs the question of why, based upon the duties of this job, do we need a uniformed police officer for this position? We need as many sworn officers as we can muster on the streets of Durham and not behind desks setting up off duty appointments or arranging tow trucks schedules.Eugene Brown, Durham City Council

[Victim Of The Law]

Even if she did steal from the city nothing will happen to her. Durham City and County Law Enforcement is as corrupt as it can be. They are the true criminals in Durham. They have no interest in stopping gang crimes or other problems. They are much happier harassing the citizenry that harm no one. Nothing but thugs.

[Darius Little, Ward 2 Candidate]

Councilman Brown has raised an excellent issue, in noting the fact that there is a gross miscalculation in the mindframe of some administrators within our city government. Our 'authorities' just don't seem to think outside of the box, in the day-to-day operations of our government.

Our citizens are having water fees increased, continually, yet in a financially strained budgetary year, our City Departments just aren't using discernment in their operating strategies.

We have to become a team overall, of the same foundational mindframe, in order to adequately serve our citizens. This is embarrassing. For the record: the officer isn't at fault here, but the "institution,"

[Rob]

Mr. Little,
How can you state that the officer isn't at fault? If she did knowingly claim hours that she did not work (which is not yet clear, since the investigation is still ongoing), then she is at fault.

Anyone who falsely charges hours to their employer is committing fraud. We're not talking about leaving 10 minutes early each Friday, either, but someone that may have potentially doubled their salary through falsely claiming hours.

Is it your belief that the officer in question should not be punished?

[Darius Little, Ward 2 Candidate]

Rob,

Thanks for your feedback and question of me -- I sincerely appreciate it.

My thinking is as follows:

First, I prior to my assuming that the officer indeed logged hours that she didn't work, I would submit myself to the important point you raised in your last post: "which is not yet clear, since the investigation is still ongoing." So, I've left the issue of her potential negligence aside, for the immediate moment. We will address that at a later point, after her investigation is complete.

The root of this problem, looking at the larger picture, lies far above the officer's actions. It is fact that she received over $8,000 in December for overtime. If that wasn't noted as a red flag to anyone, then perhaps there is more to this story than is being told here in the initial phase. I like using the "total picture" strategy when problem-solving and given his reply, I think Councilman Brown does, as well. The officer needs to be dealt with, if she is indeed guilty of fraud. However, the article notes that most of her job can in-fact be done from home, so given the high volume of scheduling within the Police Department and the assignment of officers, it isn't very difficult to assume she could rack-up a large amount of overtime hours. Having said that, my position is that there should be some type-of checks and balances in place, administratively, where something like this, if suspicious, could be flagged and looked into (without a citizen having to be the one to bring this to the manager's attention).

FACT: We MAY have a fraud problem here.

FACT: We DO have a clear case of "lack of administrative oversight" here.

I am not overlooking the potential of the first, but since we have enough solid evidence to conclude the latter, I'm sticking with that at the moment....b/c even if her actions weren't fraudulent, we don't have to have a uniformed officer (which are most cost to the Durham taxpayer) handling those types-of duties. It sounds like a plush reward for "12 years of service" to the force; which is the elitism I want to fight against.

Hope that answered your question.

www.dariusforcouncil.weebly.com

[redant]

Every employee in the police department has someone who is responsible for approving their overtime. This was either allowed to happen intentionally or through dereliction of duty by her supervisor.

[Doug Roach]

I wonder what the over and under is on when this particular issue is ever heard about again. Seems burying a concern is not an unheard of protocol in this city.
My money would be on some date involving both hell and freezing. But then, I'm new here and may be completely wrong.
Doesn't surprise me that Council candidates are chiming in on this issue with little or no information. As a citizen on a rant that's one thing. As a candidate or current holder of a public office that may have an impact on this case, that's irresponsible.

[Yolanda]

Darius Little - seriously? You believe in the possibility that she worked 8 hours on the job, then another 8 or so hours at home, every day (even if it was every other day), during the holiday season? Seriously??

You're a candidate for office?

[Darius Little]

Yalonda:

In running a business, or organization of any sort, there is a protocol which should be followed, in making statements which could negatively affect an employee, prematurely. As noted by other observant posters, all overtime must be approved by a supervisor. Therefore, this issue is not as simple as "logging overtime," but instead, goes to a larger issue, which, being a candidate for City Council, I should be equipped to asses, after guaging all information, not choosing favorite pieces.

Also, having a current Council member, in Mr. Brown, as well as myself, a candidate, posting here, should be applauded, not criticized. It is time that our governmental figures connect to the community via various arenas of communication, not stonewall the community by being afraid to publicly take positions due to fear of retaliation. Someone needs to speak-up for the people and we must continue to foster an atmosphere of communication and dialogue between the citizens and the council.

The corporate mentality isn't effective. But, if you prefer someone who you only get to interact with by seeing them on television, or via leaving a message with a secretary, that's your choice on Oct 6.

[Brandon]

i can't wait to see what the dpd does to this lady. that will tell us a lot about how far we have come or not come.

[linda]

the audit shows some remarkable overtime figures -
http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/manager/pdf/overtime_report.pdf

[ronnie]

You think the PD is bad take a look at General Services. Ask about the new chiller on top of City Hall that has never worked cost approx 240000 this is just the tip of the iceberg

[DH]

Tell me if this is more plausible than not. This officer was put into a position that was previously occupied by two other officers at which time each business had its own assigned police officer coordinator that reported to the two officers over secondary employment. At the time this officer was appointed to this position, she became the sole coordinator for all secondary employment for every police officer and every business needing the service who reported directly to her while having no support staff to assist her. Additionally, she was required to resolve pay issues for officers working off duty, customer services issues for businesses who needed officers to work, as well as towing and abc permits. All of these people where reporting to her for all of their scheduling and issue needs which required 24 hours/7 day a week customer service. These police officer worked 24 hours and 7 days a week. Three people currently occupy her previous position. When she was on vacation, scheduled off duty, and after work hours and weekends, the police department did not designate or assign anyone else to deal with these issues when she was not scheduled to work. It was more beneficial for the department and the county to pay her overtime to respond to these issues than hire two more people with additional salaries and benefits. This is supported by their acknowledgement and continued approval of overtime paid to this officer. This lady has been crucified in the news and public opinion without the facts being fully disclosed. Imagine getting fired for a job that you worked your ass of for and invested half of your adult life in because you loved what you were doing and effectively did the work of three people. This is not justice. This is the city manager's office and the top brass covering their rear end for their failure to assign support staff for the position in order to ease the budget.

[DH]

Oh btw, overtime is not actual hours worked but is calculated at an higher rate such as time and 1/2 or double time for holidays. Overtime indicates that you are compensated at an higher rate for hourly employees and because that is the law. She may only needed to work 4 hours for the overtime rate of 8 hours. Secondly, racking up these hours may not be hard to if you are on vacation, and because the department does not assign someone to take care of these issues....you are constantly having to work on this issues even though you are not schedule to work. If I am on vacation using my time and my job wants me to work, you best believe they are going to be paying me overtime.