Kenneth Naylor, the Department of Public Works employee who was stopped by police on Sept. 28 and found to have about $2,000 of city equipment in his pickup truck, has been fired.
“I reread the report [police report] and I was disturbed by it,” City Personnel Director Oscar Shelton said yesterday. In particular, Shelton said he was troubled that Naylor had taken gasoline from the city yard and told police that he planned to call in sick the following day so that he could use the equipment to clean up his yard.
Police had had the city yard under surveillance and watched Naylor unlock the gates and after about a half hour leave the premises. When stopped, he told police he was “borrowing” the equipment as allowed by the department, but had not informed his supervisor that he would be taking it.
“I wasn’t aware he had gasoline with him,” Shelton said of his first read of the police report. “You don’t return gasoline.”
He was also troubled by Naylor’s admission that he planned to call in sick.
“That’s a form of stealing, too,” said Shelton.
Shelton said Naylor was asked to come in and give his side of the story last Friday and following that visit Shelton made the decision to terminate him.
Police never arrested Naylor and as the department had allowed employees to borrow equipment, Police Chief Stephen McCartney said last week that the department would have difficulty making a case if an arrest was made at this time.
Initially, Naylor was suspended without pay.
Shelton said Naylor’s dismissal was effective as of Friday.
Naylor, who worked for the department for 13 years, is a West Warwick resident.
I wish Mr. Naylor well as he moves forward with his life. We all make mistakes. The key is to take our medicine and move on.
Good job Chief...More of that going on for a very long time. I hope you get them all.
“I reread the report [police report] and I was disturbed by it,” City Personnel Director Oscar Shelton said yesterday.
“I wasn’t aware he had gasoline with him,” Shelton said of his first read of the police report. “You don’t return gasoline.”
He was also troubled by Naylor’s admission that he planned to call in sick. “That’s a form of stealing, too,” said Shelton.
This incident occured on September 28. It took the administration 20 days to figure out what really happened only after rereading the police report? Come on. Most would have figured that out the next morning after reading the report for the first time. Something isn't right about this situation and the explaination being provided by top city leaders reeks of a cover-up. The police can't do much because of the phamton "borrowed tool" policy by the DPW boss. Hopefully there will be a top to bottom investigation of DPW policies and an accouting of all supplies and tools over the last few years.
Hey Bob,
Really your upset it took 20 days? Yes he deserved to get fired but he was suspended without pay immediatley... They took the time (20 days) to get the facts straight and make a decision, and fired him. How do you think things run, you wake up the next morning and just start firing people without hearing their side of the story.... Do you know how management works? Oh I forgot your are the FORMER.... You sucked at your job and the people spoke.... BEAT IT...
Stevie apparently you are a government worker because any manager in private industry would not have taken 20 days to fire this individual. Why don't you reread the article and focus on how the personal director days later reread the report to discover stealing and calling in sick when he was not sick. No defense Stevie D.
SteveD:
Why the edge on your voice? All credibility dissolves when advise like "BEAT IT" is posted.
SO THE GUY BORROWED SOME EQUIPMENT HOW MANY STATE AND CITY OFFICALS DO THE SAME
THERE WAS NO NEED TO FIRE HIM
to perky
if he was borrowing the tools why was he there at nite..he is a thief ...Justice was served..
Obviously the employee knew he was stealing the gasoline and certainly wasn't going to return the device that was holding up his deck.However, firering him maybe a good way to set the example for other employees but with the unemployed lines swelling in Rhode Island I think that a suspension might have been sufficient punishment at this time, unless he had a past history of doing the same. " Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone".