Internal report criticized Durham police off-duty program

An internal report completed in June 2008 noted mismanagement in the Durham Police Department's off-duty employment program. The program has come under scrutiny recently because of excessive overtime paid to its former administrator.

Posted 8:39 p.m. Oct 23, 2009 — Updated 12:34 p.m. Oct 24, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. — An internal report completed more than a year ago noted mismanagement in the Durham Police Department's off-duty employment program, which has come under scrutiny recently because of excessive overtime paid to its former administrator.

The 63-page report, which the department released Friday after a request by WRAL News and other media outlets, questioned the supervision, policies and administration of the secondary-employment program, which coordinates off-duty jobs for officers.

The report recommended hiring a civilian to run the program, submitting detailed monthly reports, revising and updating policies, and running all payments through the city.

Police Chief Jose Lopez, who requested the study in January 2008, was out of town Friday and couldn't be reached for comment.

Beverly Thompson, a spokeswoman for the city of Durham, said a committee is working on revamping the secondary-employment program's policies and procedures and expects to have recommendations by the end of November.

Last week, the police department fired Alesha Robinson-Taylor, who administered the program. A city audit determined she had accumulated nearly $60,000 in overtime pay in 10 months.

Auditors determined that time sheets, phone records and e-mail logs couldn't substantiate the $59,545 in overtime Robinson-Taylor got between last October and July. The overtime was nearly $7,000 more than her annual salary.

Deputy Chief B.J. Council, who approved most of the overtime, is using accrued leave before her retirement takes effect Dec. 31.

Robinson-Taylor wasn't overseeing the secondary-employment program at the time the 2008 report was issued, according to Thompson.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating to determine if criminal charges are warranted, and the city is seeking reimbursement from Robinson-Taylor, who has appealed her termination.

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