HR director may lose job after hiring 15 ex-cons
September 15, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: HR Tech, Hiring, In this week's e-newsletter - Tech, Latest News & Views
The tricky thing about background checks: You actually have to pay attention to the results you get.
That dilemma’s at the heart of a controversy surrounding the police force in Washington, D.C., which may lead to the force’s Human Resources director losing her job. Here’s the skinny:
The Capitol Police have a policy against hiring cops with prior criminal convictions and conducts background checks to make sure all applicants are clean.
But recently, a batch of 60 officers-in-training were hired — and it turns out 15 of them had criminal records or “other irregularities” and lied about them. Apparently the convictions appeared on the background checks but the applicants were hired anyway.
How’d they slip through the cracks? No one’s sure yet, but a thorough investigation is planned by the D.C. government.
In the meantime, the force’s HR director has been put on administrative leave. Many government officials and members of the public have called on the force’s HR director to resign, or be terminated.
Tags: background checks, Capitol Police, criminal records, hiring tests
September 15th, 2009 at 8:59 am
The HR director was just saving the force some time, half are already crooked so she was just being proactive.
September 15th, 2009 at 9:35 am
This is exactly what consistent background checks help you avoid: 1) You and your company’s name in the news and 2) You standing in the unemployment line.
September 15th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Gee…i wonder if that is the very reason why there are so many officers abusing their power now a days…all over the country. They were ex-convicts and just cleared them to get the jobs filled without regard to the background/criminal checks. What’s the point in conducting the checks if they’re not even looking at them, or even worse – ignoring them? Obviously, they have to conduct an investigation and find out how involved was the director in the recruitment process. Was it her decision to hire, based on clearance from someone in her staff? If so, there should be other people on LOAs as well. Ultimately, it is her responsibility, but those involved in the process should not be left unpunished.
September 15th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I agree with Lizzy. If she’s the HRD for the D.C. police force, I doubt she’s the person issuing the background checks, taking applications, follow up, etc. In fact, I would be surprised if she had any direct involvement, considering an operation of that size.
She is the ultimate department head, so the axe would fall on her neck first, but there’s no way she’s the only one to blame.
Of course, the vast majority of Washington are crooks and criminals anyway — why not the police force too?
September 15th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
While unrelated to the issue at hand, I am confused by the article because the DC Police and the Capital Police are two different agencies. I think the Capital Police are a federal agency.
September 15th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Perhaps the HR Director should seek advise from Obama, he has employed such personnel, and he isn’t in any present threat of job loss.
September 15th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
it takes a crook to catch a crook
September 15th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
The bottom line here is…she was hired as the DIRECTOR…..payed a large salary to do her job. Did she do it?? NO! As the saying goes, “You can delegate authority, but you cannot delegate responsibility!” It rolls back on YOU!
September 15th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
I recently had my cell phone stolen at a local community college. I reported the incident to the Campus Police and they took a report. They officer seemed o.k. but as the process went on he started talking about wasting people for petty offenses. Us against them and a person’s home is his castle. While I understand and support protecting yourself against people that would harm you, his comment about wasting people for a cell phone theft was way over the top……………..