Friday, February 6, 2004
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Friday, February 6, 2004 |
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“I’ve done a bad thing” By JOHN MUNFORD Four Peachtree City public works employees, including the top two managers, have resigned in the wake of a criminal investigation into wrongdoing at the agency. Bobby Thompson, the director of the public works department and an 18-year employee of the city, resigned Tuesday along with public works superintendent Chris Bowden and shop foreman Cameron Bolden. Employee Paul M. Justus tendered his resignation Thursday. None of them have been named as suspects in the ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of misappropriated funds and property at the public works department. In an emotional resignation letter, Thompson indicated remorse for his actions, taking culpability for some of the alleged wrongdoing that went on at the public works department. “I am very ashamed of my actions,” Thompson wrote. “... But I have to accept this is the way it is. I must pay for what I’ve done. “... I’m not a bad person, but I’ve done a bad thing. I’ve asked my family to forgive me, and God, but I know the city can’t.” Thompson also said in his letter that he endeavored to work hard for the city until the past couple of years. “I quit thinking about what was right and wrong and allowed myself to get things on me which took away any control,” Thompson wrote. “I wanted so bad to change things around (but) it couldn’t be done because of what I did.” Peachtree City officials have appointed two interim employees to fill in the top management positions at the public works department. Randy Gaddo, the city’s director of leisure services, has been named interim director of the city’s public works department. Also, Jim Miller, manager of the Kedron Fieldhouse, has been named interim public works superintendent. Tyler declined to comment on whether any employees had resigned, been fired, suspended or disciplined in connection to the police investigation. Meanwhile, Peachtree City detectives have been working around the clock, going through five years of purchase orders and matching them up to the employee responsible for the purchase. Records from paving companies and auto parts suppliers have also been subpoenaed, officials confirmed. The Citizen has also learned that some accusations involved workers stealing packages that were delivered to the public works and recreation departments and items being thrown into the trash which were later taken out of the garbage by employees who claimed the items as their own. Police Chief James Murray confirmed those allegations were “a part” of the investigation. No one at the management level in the recreation department has been targeted by the investigation, Police Chief James Murray said. The recreation department was involved because some of the items which turned up missing were taken from recreation department property. The recreation department is adjacent to the public works department’s location on McIntosh Trail. The investigation by the Peachtree City Police Department began after two seemingly minor incidents were reported, according to a news release issued by the city late Wednesday morning. None of the suspects’ names are being released, and Murray noted he does not comment about ongoing investigations. A “management restructuring” of those two divisions has been implemented by City Manager Bernie McMullen to ensure operations continue efficiently, officials said. McMullen said failure to uphold city ordinances and state law “cannot and will not be tolerated.” “No employee is above the law, and we are determined to make sure the matter is resolved and all those who have broken the law are identified,” McMullen said. McMullen said full information on the investigation would be released to the public as soon as it is deemed legal to do so. “This is a matter involving public funds and the public trust, and our citizens and taxpayers have the right to know,” McMullen said. Police Chief James Murray said when he notified McMullen about the investigation, he and the City Council “wanted a full investigation to determine the scope of the problem.” When the criminal investigation is complete, the results will be forwarded to McMullen for review, officials said. The city can seek restitution for any misappropriated funds, officials indicated. Until the matter is resolved, officials are conducting a full examination of the departments’ policies and procedures “to identify what went wrong and prevent such occurrences,” McMullen added. — Staff writer J. Frank Lynch contributed to this report
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