Criminal investigations launched into DCF practices

What we have been saying about all or most state CPS agencies. Lots of cover
in their budgets.


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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...22oct22,0,7700
268.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines
Criminal investigation launched into DCF practices



By Megan O'Matz
Staff Writer

October 22, 2004

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has opened a criminal investigation
into contracting practices at the state Department of Children & Families, an
FDLE official said Thursday.

Spokeswoman Kristen Perezluha declined to discuss specifics of the inquiry or
its targets.

"It may involve former DCF employees, but I can't say who exactly we're
investigating," she said.

The investigation was prompted by a report released in July by the state
inspector general's office that found unethical behavior by then-Secretary
Jerry Regier and two top DCF employees.

"Several weeks ago we concluded the review of the inspector general's reports
and we found possible criminal violations related to the DCF contracts,"
Perezluha said. "At that point, we decided to open a criminal investigation."

The two employees named in the report resigned shortly after its release. The
inspector general said Ben Harris, DCF's deputy secretary of operations and
technology, and Glenn Palmiere, the department's information technology
director, violated ethics rules by accepting gifts and trips from software
companies doing business with the state. The report also said Harris
circumvented state purchasing requirements to give work to a favored
consultant.

Harris said Thursday that he was not told that he was a focus of any FDLE
investigation.

"I've committed no crime and done nothing wrong," he said. "I'm not sure what
they're trying to accomplish with this."

Palmiere could not be reached for comment at his Sarasota residence.

Perezluha would not say whether the investigation involves Regier.

On Thursday Regier said he was unaware of any criminal investigation.

He apologized publicly in July after the inspector general's report said he
acted improperly by attending a birthday party in his honor thrown by Florida
State University researcher James A. Bax, who secured millions of dollars in
no-bid contracts from DCF for the university.

The report also faulted Regier for staying overnight with his wife at Bax's
Longboat Key home.

Regier resigned in late August, after enduring weeks of bad press involving
reports of cronyism and favoritism in DCF's business dealings.

Regier said Thursday, "These investigations have been a witch hunt and
character assassination from the beginning. There's no truth to the many
allegations that have been made against me, and I have no idea if there's some
new investigation."

Earlier this week another DCF deputy secretary, Celeste Putnam, quit in the
wake of an internal DCF investigation that found questionable spending
practices in a $623,208 mental health contract with FSU.

Putnam, who managed the state's substance abuse and mental health programs, was
responsible for ensuring that the contract was executed properly.

DCF spokesman Bob Brooks declined to comment Thursday on the FDLE inquiry,
saying, "We cooperate fully in all law enforcement investigations, but do not
discuss any specific details."

Megan O'Matz can be reached at or 954-356-4518.

FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, CPS, FOSTER CARE,
CONFIDENTIALITY, ACCOUNTANCY, CORRUPTION, EMBEZZLEMENT, QUI TAM LAWSUITS,
WHISTLEBLOWER LAWS, KIN CARE, KINSHIP CARE, CHILD PROTECTIVE, SUNSHINE LAWS,
CONFIDENTIALTY