Florida Town Criticized for Not Conducting Employee Background Checks
One town in Florida is being criticized for not conducting background checks on its employees.
About 32 civilian employees in Eatonville, Florida recently completed background checks, and it was found more than 12 of them had been convicted of crimes.
Following the background checks, three employees were fired, according to an article by the Orlando Sentinel. However, in most cases the offenses were minor and committed more than 10 years ago.
Town officials spent nearly two months investigating employees’ criminal histories after it was revealed the town planning director was awaiting trial on charges that he took thousands of dollars worth of bribes from a developer when he was a planner for Miami Beach.
Because of the recent developments, the Town Council is now implementing a rule that will require all new employees to undergo background checks before they are hired. The town used to only require its finance and police department employees to undergo background checks. The town also has put together a more extensive job application for future employees.
“In their most recent investigation, town authorities uncovered the criminal records of 14 employees,” the article notes. “Of the three who were fired, one employee in the parks division was convicted of selling, manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance.
“The others were employed in public works and had suspended drivers’ licenses that couldn’t immediately be reinstated,” the article continues. “One of them had his license revoked for two years in 2007 after being convicted of driving under the influence, cocaine possession and other charges. Three other employees found with suspended licenses in July had them restored.”
The town is still employing an administrative assistant who was convicted of welfare fraud in 2007 and a department head arrested in 2004 for DUI and in 2005 for domestic violence, although both charges were dismissed.
Cities in Florida set their own hiring and background check policies, and several municipalities in Orange County conduct full background checks for all prospective employees.