Millbrae: Disciplinary action looms for SFPUC workers in online porn and gambling scandal - News from Millbrae
Punishment could dealt out soon for employees of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission accused of sharing internet porn and online gambling on the job.
The SFPUC won't say how many employees are involved, but KTVU has learned the investigation is focusing on city plumbers who work at the city distribution division on Newcomb Avenue as well as water supply and treatment.
The workers are accused of using city time and computers to surf for porn and gambling.
At the SF PUC yard in Millbrae, workers knew why KTVU camera crews were there.
" heard about it like everybody else," said one worker. "It's unfortunate."
The location is one of the places where employees are suspected of using city computers to share pornography and take part in online gambling.
"The events occurred using city resources on city time, which is why we're taking this very seriously," said Tyrone Jue of the SF PUC.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said he wants an investigation finished soon. Officials told KTVU it should be complete in a "week or two."
"Clearly the allegations are very disturbing," said Lee. "It's misuse of property for all the wrong reasons."
For several months, the SFPUC has been investigating a tip from a whistleblower that city plumbers had been sending and receiving pornographic images on the job.
"We're doing a full investigation as far as looking into what sites were visited, documenting what types of photographs may or may not have been distributed," said Jue. "I can say -- obviously with 'distribution' -- it involves more than one, so there were a number of employees that were alleged to have been involved in this."
While investigators don't suspect anything criminal, they said the activity would be a violation of city policy and could lead to punishment from suspensions to termination.
"Anytime you get an allegation of this sort, you have to take the appropriate action, to send the message that it's not ok to betray the public's trust," said Jue.
While the employees involved have not been named, they're reportedly still on the job. KTVU reached out to the Plumbers' Union Local 38 Monday, but did not hear back from them.
Mayor Lee said the case could lead to changes beyond punishment for those responsible. He wants a fresh look at how the city monitors all employee use of the internet and other technology.
We have all levels of discipline that are at stake," said Lee. "I think what we need to do is not only that it's taken care of in a disciplinary way, but that it doesn't happen again."
The PUC workers will still be able to appeal their cases if and when any discipline is handed down
Punishment could dealt out soon for employees of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission accused of sharing internet porn and online gambling on the job.
The SFPUC won't say how many employees are involved, but KTVU has learned the investigation is focusing on city plumbers who work at the city distribution division on Newcomb Avenue as well as water supply and treatment.
The workers are accused of using city time and computers to surf for porn and gambling.
At the SF PUC yard in Millbrae, workers knew why KTVU camera crews were there.
" heard about it like everybody else," said one worker. "It's unfortunate."
The location is one of the places where employees are suspected of using city computers to share pornography and take part in online gambling.
"The events occurred using city resources on city time, which is why we're taking this very seriously," said Tyrone Jue of the SF PUC.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said he wants an investigation finished soon. Officials told KTVU it should be complete in a "week or two."
"Clearly the allegations are very disturbing," said Lee. "It's misuse of property for all the wrong reasons."
For several months, the SFPUC has been investigating a tip from a whistleblower that city plumbers had been sending and receiving pornographic images on the job.
"We're doing a full investigation as far as looking into what sites were visited, documenting what types of photographs may or may not have been distributed," said Jue. "I can say -- obviously with 'distribution' -- it involves more than one, so there were a number of employees that were alleged to have been involved in this."
While investigators don't suspect anything criminal, they said the activity would be a violation of city policy and could lead to punishment from suspensions to termination.
"Anytime you get an allegation of this sort, you have to take the appropriate action, to send the message that it's not ok to betray the public's trust," said Jue.
While the employees involved have not been named, they're reportedly still on the job. KTVU reached out to the Plumbers' Union Local 38 Monday, but did not hear back from them.
Mayor Lee said the case could lead to changes beyond punishment for those responsible. He wants a fresh look at how the city monitors all employee use of the internet and other technology.
We have all levels of discipline that are at stake," said Lee. "I think what we need to do is not only that it's taken care of in a disciplinary way, but that it doesn't happen again."
The PUC workers will still be able to appeal their cases if and when any discipline is handed down
