In Wake of Recruitment Gaffe, Department Head Is on Leave
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Pressure is mounting on a top U.S. Capitol Police personnel official to resign in the wake of a scandal over the hiring of 15 recruits who had criminal records or other irregularities that should have disqualified them, officials said yesterday.
The Capitol Police human resources director, Jennifer McCarthy, was put on administrative leave several weeks ago in connection with the problem, according to police and congressional officials. She was told to resign by today or present strong evidence why she shouldn't be fired, said congressional and police sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to comment on personnel matters.
McCarthy did not respond to a message left at her home phone number. She has denied any wrongdoing, according to one Capitol Police source.
The 15 police trainees, who make up about one-fourth of the latest group of recruits, were removed about halfway through a 12-week training course in Georgia and recalled to Washington over the weekend. They have been told they will be fired Friday if they haven't resigned by then.
Capitol Police have declined to comment publicly about the matter, citing their policy of not discussing personnel issues. But officers knowledgeable about the matter said some of the recruits had criminal records, and a few had failed psychological tests during the hiring process. Others got in trouble for lying about relatively minor infractions, officers said.
The officials declined to elaborate on what offenses the recruits allegedly had committed.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif), head of the Rules Committee, which oversees the Capitol Police, plans to hold a hearing early next month to examine the hiring lapse and other police issues, an aide said yesterday.
"Based on the briefings we've received from the Capitol Police, there was a very serious problem and a failure to do adequate background checks. It concerns Senator Feinstein deeply how this could happen," said Howard Gantman, the committee's staff director.
Several recruits plan to contest the dismissals. John Barry, an attorney for five of the employees, said the Capitol Police chief didn't have the power to fire them. That authority belonged to the heads of congressional oversight committees, Barry said.
He said in a news release yesterday that he would appeal to Feinstein and Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.), head of the House Administration Committee, to block the dismissals and launch an investigation.
"We plan to present a vigorous defense of the individual officers we represent before the Senate and House and ask pro-labor Democrats to at least review the evidence prior to making any decisions in this matter, and the same for any pro-law enforcement . . . Republicans on these two committees," Barry said in the release.
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer, who helps oversee the Capitol Police, said in response: "We'll let the lawyers argue about who has authority and who doesn't. I think the chief is doing what needs to be done and what he's expected to do."
He declined to provide details on the cases of the recruits or the human resources director.
A spokesman for the House Administration Committee, Kyle Anderson, declined to comment.
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