SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- A city worker was caught driving 98 miles per hour down the freeway and 26 employees did unauthorized work for an unidentified charity while on the clock.
That's according to a city auditory's report being presented to a committee. The report came from 55 tips over the last quarter, alleging fraud, waste and other questionable or illegal activity by city employees. The city substantiated a handful, ranging from the reckless driver and charity work to unauthorized purchases and even employees not dressing professionally.
Confidentiality laws keep the city from disclosing the consequences, but it did say it took corrective action against the employee that drove 98 miles per hour in a non-emergency city vehicle.
It also released a memo saying a department head authorized the charity work on city time, and that corrective action would be taken.
"Although charitable causes are extremely important, it is our duty to ensure that all city activities performed on city time using city resources are administered in a manner that does not exposure the city to unnecessary risks and excessive costs," the memo said.
Taxpayer Brian Krause says he was especially concerned about the 98 mile-per-hour driver.
"As crowded as our freeways are, that's never safe," he said, "even if it's in the middle of the night."
A city spokesman says there are more than 11,000 workers, and some will make mistakes. He says it's the city's job to counsel those workers and rectify the situation.
If you have information on fraud at the city, you can call the tipline at (866) 809-3500.
