Mendoza from New Orleans RLC Scandal, IS FIRED!  (Related to Officer funded LLC, Anytime Solutions to "review" RLC tickets).

http://www.wdsu.com/r/28886370/detail.html

I-Team: City Department Head Dismissed
Mendoza Among Those Suspended During Police Details Probe
POSTED: 6:37 pm CDT August 16, 2011
UPDATED: 11:28 am CDT August 17, 2011

 
NEW ORLEANS -- A high-ranking employee suspended for his role in managing the city's traffic camera details has been dismissed.

The WDSU I-Team has learned that Robert Mendoza, the director of the Public Works Department since 2005, is no longer in that post. A spokesman for Mayor Mitch Landrieu confirmed the move, noting the mayor had decided to go in a "different direction."

Mendoza was suspended without pay in early May -- one of several people on the city payroll to face disciplinary action connected to the management of police details that were assigned to the traffic camera program. His suspension was to last "up to 120 days."

But during the suspension, a decision was made to terminate Mendoza, who -- as an at-will employee -- could be dismissed by the mayor at any time. Others who were placed under suspension enjoyed protection provided by the city's civil service rules and have since been reinstated.

Among those back on the job: former NOPD Eighth District Commander Ed Hosli, whose limited liability corporation, Anytime Solutions, employed dozens of off-duty officers to inspect and certify traffic camera citations.

Hosli served a suspension of 87 days and is currently assigned to administrative duty at the police department.

Landrieu said Mendoza was suspended because, as public works director, he allegedly helped broker the arrangement that led to the off-duty police details.

"Their poor and questionable judgment of using city funds to pay off-duty officers to perform police duties not only contradicts these efforts but is incredibly troubling and is dysfunctional," Landrieu said in May.

The actions followed a series of I-Team reports on NOPD details and their connections to high-ranking or well-placed officers. Several investigations were launched by the NOPD and the city.

“Acting Director Nguyen Phan will continue to lead the department in an interim role under the guidance of Deputy Mayor Cedric Grant," mayoral spokesman Ryan Berni said in a statement responding to inquiries by WDSU. "We continue to search far and wide for a permanent director for this vital department, which includes oversight over most road improvements, streetlight repairs, parking, signage, catch basins and a number of the Mayor’s committed projects.”

Mendoza has led the Public Works Department since shortly after the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. The New Orleans native served in two administrations and supervised rebuilding efforts in the years following the storm.

Mendoza has denied any misconduct related to the traffic camera detail system. His attorney said Mendoza may seek back pay for the time he was suspended, but said that his client did not appear to have legal grounds to challenge his dismissal.

Also see:  http://www.wdsu.com/news/27971301/detail.html

and http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/05/post_396.html

and http://www.wdsu.com/news/28742413/detail.html  Quote: 

The nine officers were accused of breaking department policy by forming side businesses -- LLCs -- and using them to manage police detail assignments. In a series of reports, the WDSU I-Team examined who was receiving lucrative detail work, which included the review of the citations issued by New Orleans' automated traffic camera program.

Attachments:

File	Description
Suspended New Orleans cops over LLC Anytime Solutions..pdf

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