Review of FHP SOAR Program August 2015 Executive Summary The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), Office of Inspector General (OIG), is responsible for promoting economy and efficiency in the administration of, or preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in, DHSMV programs and operations. The purpose of this document is to report on the OIG review of Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Statewide Overtime Action Response (SOAR) program. Of the 36 FHP members reviewed by the OIG, 15 members appeared to be complying with FHP Policy, 13 members were subject to an OIG investigation, and 8 members were referred to the FHP for potential violations observed to be minor. Review of SOAR On September 29, 2014, the OIG initiated a proactive approach to identify waste, fraud, and abuse in the SOAR program pursuant to Section 20.055, Florida Statutes (F.S.) 2014, which states in pertinent part, “The Office of Inspector General is established in each state agency to provide a central point for coordination of and responsibility for activities that promote accountability, integrity, and efficiency in government. It is the duty and responsibility of each inspector general, with respect to the state agency in which the office is established, to...conduct, supervise, or coordinate other activities carried out or financed by that state agency for the purpose of promoting economy and efficiency in the administration of, or preventing and detecting fraud and abuse in, its programs and operations.” To initiate a review of SOAR use within the FHP, the OIG obtained a listing from the Bureau of Personnel Services of the top ten individuals within each troop that had worked the most SOAR hours for the Fiscal Year 2013-2014. A formal review was conducted on the top 3 individuals within each Troop. This review consisted of an analysis of hours worked, compared to Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) data, People First data, Mobile Forms/Traffic Stop Data Reports (TSDR) and Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) data.Results of Review The OIG determined that in some instances FHP members who were the top SOAR eamers in their troop had claimed hours on their People First timesheet that they had not worked. Additionally, in some cases the members had left their duty posts during their tour of duty when not authorized to do so by proper authority, and had failed to utilize their Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) while operating their FHP patrol vehicles. Of the 36 FHP members reviewed: 15 members (42%) appeared to be complying with FHP Policy and no further action was taken. 13 members (36%) based on the review were alleged to have violated FHP Policy and an OIG investigation was initiated. Investigations were initiated on 12 of the 13 members due to one Sergeant who retired prior to the initiation of an OIG investigation. 8 members (22%) were alleged to have minor FHP Policy violations and were referred to FHP, through the Office of Professional Compliance for further review and action Four of the OIG investigations are ongoing at the time of this paper. Below are summaries of the eight closed OIG investigations and discipline: OIG Case 20140448 - Troop A Sergeant Lonnie Baker failed to utilize the AVL function on his Mobile Data Computer (MDC) while operating his patrol vehicle, and left his duty post during his tour of duty when not authorized to do so by proper authority. FHP proposed Baker be dismissed from his position; however, he retired while under investigation. OIG Case 20140544 ~ Troop D Sergeant Charles Thomas claimed time worked (20.16%) on his People First timesheet that he did not work, used his patrol car for other than official state business, and falsified his Hireback Report of Daily Activity by claiming time worked (40.10%) when he was not present in the assigned Hireback work zones. Thomas was dismissed from his position with FHP.* OIG Case 20140547 - Troop E Trooper Christopher Veverka claimed SOAR hours worked (15.68%) on his People First timesheet that he did not work, and failed to utilize the AVL function ‘on his MDC while operating his patrol vehicle. Veverka retired from his position while under investigation * OIG Case 20140587 — Troop C Sergeant Melvin Bass claimed time worked (13.84%) on his People First timesheet that he did not work. Bass retired from his position as part of a settlement agreement. © OIG Case 20140597 - Troop B Trooper Jesse Moore was at his residence 55 hours or 31% of the regular duty, SOAR, and Court Overtime Pay Program hours for the period reviewed. Moore was served a dismissal letter on May 28, 2015, * OIG Case 20150011 — Troop C Corporal Vinson Parnell claimed time worked (25.04%) on his People First timesheet not worked, falsified Hireback RDA by claiming time worked (23.91%) when not present in the Hireback work zone, failed to utilize the AVL function on his MDC while operating his patrol vehicle, worked more than 16 hours in a 24 hour period, failed to notify supervisor and report change of address to the supervisor, Troop Commander, and duty station within 48 hours, and failed to obtain authorization to live outside the county of assignment. Pamell retired from his position as part of a settlement agreement. * OIG Case 20150018 - Troop G Trooper Kelvin Vega was found to be at his residence or stationary in the parking lot of restaurants for 20% of the SOAR hours reviewed and 35% of his regular duty hours. He was also determined to not be in his assigned Hireback zone as required for 14% of the time reviewed, Vega was served a dismissal letter on June 25, 2015.* OIG Case 20160046 - Troop H Trooper Michael Stallworth was found to have reported to the communications center that he was on duty ("in service") but remained at his residence while being compensated and suspended patrol for more than 15 minutes without notifying the communications center of his location or status and claiming the time as worked. Stallworth was served a dismissal letter on May 28, 2015