Moonlighting muddle - again
Rocky Mountain News
Published April 19, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
We can't say we're terribly impressed with a 35-page report issued this week by Denver Auditor Dennis Gallagher on police bookkeeping practices. Then again, we can't say we're terribly impressed with police Chief Gerry Whitman's 23-page response that accompanied it.
One of these days, we're certain, the city is going to master an efficient system of tracking and managing moonlighting and comp time among police officers. Department officials keep saying they will and we sure do appreciate their can-do spirit. This issue has only been festering for a dozen years or more, after all.
Give them time, we say. One of these days . . .
Presumably because of the voluminous paper records involved in tracking time and attendance for a department of more than 1,400 employees, the auditor's office examined the records of only 15 officers. That sample is simply too superficial to accurately assess the magnitude of problems or arrive at meaningful recommendations.
Furthermore, the police department formally requested that the auditor enter into a Memorandum of Understanding regarding access to department records. "As a result, we were restricted in our ability to review additional documentation to more fully substantiate audit work," wrote Director of Audit Services Kip Memmott.
Yet even with its limitations, the audit does add to evidence that has accumulated over the years suggesting sloppy record-keeping. The antiquated administration of off-duty work by police simply creates the opportunity for too many abuses and violations of policy, some of which have made headlines over the years. A modern system is sorely needed. Tighter control of off-duty work may be nearly impossible until such a system is in place and is fully and reliably operational.
The real issue is what happens after the installation of the new, much ballyhooed TeleStaff system. "TeleStaff will fix that" is, in so many words, the chief's response to virtually all of the record-keeping deficiencies this audit identifies.
If TeleStaff is as good as Whitman claims, it ought to facilitate a more complete review than the one just finished. A follow-up audit - within a year of the completed system conversion and involving hundreds of employees - should be conducted to determine whether or not the technology in fact has solved the record-keeping problems. All records essential to an examination must be made available, none withheld.
Clearly, though, issues regarding the administration of off-duty work will remain, even if TeleStaff organizes the record-keeping. Whitman's standard response to the audit's calls for better management - that each such recommendation "would impact staffing resources and have budgetary impact" - is little more than a convenient, defensive dismissal. This stonewall cannot be the final word.
The city needs to look into the implications of dedicating staff to administer the moonlighting program, and determine if it is worth the cost. The city could fund this extracurricular expense by formalizing an off-duty compensation structure and taking a small cut of what outside employers pay for these services.
Whitman is right that " . . . off-duty work by officers of the Denver Police Department at secondary employment jobs is an asset to the community."
But only if it is free of mismanagement and abuse.
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April 19, 2008
6:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
samsmargolis writes:
Whitman is allowed to dodge this issue because the Manager of Safety permits silly crap like the MOA to issue. Are you kidding? You can audit...but only this narrow, razor-thin, superficial slice of the entire pie? C'mon. The Manager of Safety is allowed to turn a blind eye to a perpetual mismanagement of this department because the Mayor and City Council refuse to hold him accountable. Wanna bet the "cash up front" for off-duty work is more about officers not paying taxes on income than businesses not paying for work? That's where the next investigation needs to focus. When you have officers calling in sick to work off-duty jobs, that's double-dipping and should be investigated internally (if not criminally). Where, or how, is the guy they hired to audit DPD internal investigations related to all of this? The RMN should know what the answer to the TeleStaff question is already. It's a delay and a dodge to the substance of the issue which should be: what are you doing currently about the abuses of the system by way of investigations - internal or criminal? Or, are we all to believe that DPD and Whitman get to rest on his 23-page response alone? Pathetic. How many years and chances do they get to remedy this ethical debacle?
April 19, 2008
1:09 p.m.
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peterpi writes:
Nice editorial. The reason that the Police Chief isn't too concerned about moonlighting among police officers is that such work is considered a legal (if not a divine) right by police officers. We constantly hear that police work is a 24-hour-a-day job, then when a police officer gets caught doing something wrong during off-duty work, the respons is "Oh, that was on my private time, the city can't do anything."
April 19, 2008
1:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
Who cares...at least they aren't bilking millions from investors. Let them make some extra money, because we sure don't pay them enough.
April 19, 2008
9:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
arby writes:
I disagree about their pay. They get paid well. If they want to work after their regular shift at some venue then OK. They buy and maintain their own uniforms and equipment. However they also need to remember that when in uniform they represent the PD. Doesn't make any difference which PD. There have been too many occurances lately about off duty officers over stepping the boundaries. Maybe the Governor should get with CBI and set up state wide rules for officers that use their position to moonlight. Calling in sick to pick up an extra job should be a definite NO.