Veteran New Orleans police captain fired for neglecting duties
Dr. Kardasz -
Read the following report and consider:
1. Which typology of unethical behavior was exhibited by the accused?
2. Which decision making process might have prevented the accused from making the wrong decision?
Typologies of unethical behavior - http://kardasz.org/CorruptionTypologies.html
Decision making processes - http://kardasz.org/Decision_Making_Tools.html
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Veteran New Orleans police captain fired for neglecting duties - Tennis, long lunches occupied Mendoza
July 29, 2006, By Michael Perlstein
New Orleans Police Chief Warren Riley on Friday fired Capt. Harry Mendoza, the department's high-profile traffic commander, ruling that the 30-year veteran regularly spent large chunks of his workday on the tennis court, in the gym and, at times, just relaxing at home. Mendoza, 52, was fired for seven separate counts of neglect of duty in a closely watched case that was vigorously contested by Mendoza and his attorney. The former captain also was cited for transporting civilians in his police vehicle and wearing an unauthorized uniform while working a private security detail.
Assistant Chief Marlon Defillo, commander of the Public Integrity Bureau, said his investigators tailed Mendoza for several weeks in April and were shocked by the lack of time Mendoza spent on the job. Defillo said investigators found the captain attending not to work but to a busy schedule of personal activities. "We substantiated claims that the captain was at work for a minimal amount of time or, sometimes, not at work at all," Defillo said. "He was seen playing tennis, working out at the gym, enjoying extended lunch and dinner engagements at restaurants. A lot of these activities took place in Jefferson Parish and certainly weren't in the best interest of the Police Department or the public."
Mendoza's attorney, Eric Hessler, said whatever was discovered during the integrity bureau's surveillance is irrelevant because Mendoza isn't an hourly employee and so isn't tethered to a time clock. He said Mendoza often conducted business by phone and was on call 24 hours a day. Hessler said he is preparing an appeal to the Civil Service Commission. "I can assure you," Hessler said, "this case will be reversed by Civil Service. Harry Mendoza will be a New Orleans police officer again and he will be a captain. Even if they proved some of the allegations against him, it certainly wouldn't have supported termination." Hessler suggested that politics played a significant role in the case, starting with the Police Department's decision to investigate Mendoza.
Mendoza is a longtime friend of Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and openly supported Landrieu during his bid to unseat New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. When it appeared that Landrieu had a good chance against Nagin in the mayoral runoff, speculation within the department had Mendoza in line for a major promotion under a Landrieu regime. Landrieu made it clear during the campaign that, if elected, he would conduct a national search for a new police chief. "This case got caught up in personalities and politics," Hessler said. "This is a 30-year-employee with an excellent record who, during Katrina, commanded one of the only units with 100 percent retention. Unfortunately, if someone gets respect and admiration throughout the department for their work, the department tries to knock them down." Defillo flatly rejected any notion that politics entered into the investigation.
"Nobody influenced anyone to do anything," Defillo said. "The facts are the facts. Even though Capt. Mendoza was a salaried employee, he has to be at work. He has to be able to lead and manage his officers in an effective manner. He cannot be on the tennis court and in the gym and be an effective leader." The conduct of police commanders is always critical, Defillo said, but especially so with the department short-handed and being assisted by outside agencies since Hurricane Katrina. The most recent help has come from National Guard troops and State Police troopers, who have been supplementing local police patrols since the beginning of summer.
"The public deserves more, especially during this time when the city has brought in outside resources to help prevent crime and provide public safety," Defillo said.
Michael Perlstein can be reached at mperlstein@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3316.
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