32 fired for wrongdoing at Penn Pike in past year after 138 investigations - Inspector General

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says its new Office of Inspector General (OIG) had 32 employees fired, and saved it more than $1 million following 138 investigations of wrongdoing during the office's first year.

Inspector General (IG) Anthony L Maniscola said the investigations leading to 32 dismissals were conducted by his office along with the Turnpike's toll revenue audit and operations departments as well as to Pennsylvania State Police Troop T attached to the Turnpike, and the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Some cases not yet concluded are with the state police and the state's Attorney-General's office for further investigation and possible prosecutions.

Maniscola who was named to the position in February 2009 has not produced his own report but is quoted through a Turnpike spokesman: "We made a commitment to aggressively investigate all reports of theft, fraud and waste at the Turnpike, and these results are proof that we've been able to deliver. I'm proud of the job we've done to help reduce misconduct and save money, but we can't accept all the credit. In many cases, we teamed up with other Turnpike departments and received support from outside enforcement agencies."

The $1 million came mostly from payroll and benefits savings combined with termination of outside contracts and restitution.

The firings were for what the Turnpike calls "various breaches of policy or other violations including misappropriation of Turnpike equipment or resources, and theft."

Maniscola is quoted as saying that  "most of the roughly 2,000 Turnpike employees, as well as its consultants and contractors, are professional, ethical people dedicated to the mission of operating a safe, efficient toll road."

"(F)or those who stray from such values, our goal is to weed them out to help bolster public confidence in the job the commission is doing."

Maniscola is a former state investigator with 40 years of law-enforcement experience. He is quoted that all tips and complaints are taken seriously and that his office "has the full support of Turnpike commissioners and executives."

He says anyone can report potential unlawful activity such as suspected fraud, theft or corruption at the Turnpike by calling the tip line, 1-888-317-3110, emailing: tip_box@paturnpike.com or by USPS mail: "PTC Tip-Box," PO Box 19, Highspire PA 17034-0019. Other outside agencies have also provided support and counsel, including the Pennsylvania Office of Inspector General, the Inspector General of Philadelphia, PennDOT and federal agencies.

TOLLROADSnews 2010-03-19