WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Hartford fire chief won't face criminal charges (Hartford-WTNH) _ Hartford's fire chief won't face any criminal charges. Chief Robert Dobson was caught on tape allegedly working at his wife's frame shop on city time, and taking comp time he hadn't earned. Dobson was suspended for 15 days and fined nearly $4,000. State's attorney James Thomas says poor record keeping by the city has raised serious doubt as to whether Chief Dobson could be prosecuted. News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports. The investigation into Chief Dobson ended up focusing on time-sheets. But now state and Hartford officials say because of the chief's record keeping - or lack thereof - there is not enough evidence to prosecute. A secretly recorded videotape sparked the investigation into Chief Dobson. The apparently incriminating tape led to Dobson's suspension in February. Allegations were made that the chief used his city vehicle for personal business, and that Dobson had paid himself for time he did not work. However, the Hartford state's attorney had decided not to file charges. James Thomas, Hartford State's Attorney: "I reviewed the investigation, and determined that I was going to decline prosecution, primarily on the basis of record keeping that was done by the city, and questions as to exactly what employment provisions applied to the chief." Hartford city manager Saundra Kee Borges had asked the state's attorney and Hartford police to investigate the chief back in February. The city manager said Dobson has improperly filed 95 hours on his time sheets, including 67 hours of comp time he was not entitled to. Borges says the problematic record keeping was supposed to have been done by the chief. Leon: "Was it that the chief was expected to police himself and that just didn't happen?" Saundra Kee Borges, Hartford City Manager: "Absolutely. I point out to you this is a department head. This is the chief of a department. How much babysitting do you do for people that are in positions where you expect that they are going to be honorable. This is an honor system here." Borges says honor based time keeping by department heads is now under review. Chief Dobson declined to go on camera and answer questions. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Hartford fire chief won't face criminal charges
(Hartford-WTNH) _ Hartford's fire chief won't face any criminal charges. Chief Robert Dobson was caught on tape allegedly working at his wife's frame shop on city time, and taking comp time he hadn't earned. Dobson was suspended for 15 days and fined nearly $4,000. State's attorney James Thomas says poor record keeping by the city has raised serious doubt as to whether Chief Dobson could be prosecuted.
News Channel 8's Leon Collins reports.

Dobson The investigation into Chief Dobson ended up focusing on time-sheets. But now state and Hartford officials say because of the chief's record keeping - or lack thereof - there is not enough evidence to prosecute.

A secretly recorded videotape sparked the investigation into Chief Dobson. The apparently incriminating tape led to Dobson's suspension in February. Allegations were made that the chief used his city vehicle for personal business, and that Dobson had paid himself for time he did not work.

However, the Hartford state's attorney had decided not to file charges.

James Thomas, Hartford State's Attorney: "I reviewed the investigation, and determined that I was going to decline prosecution, primarily on the basis of record keeping that was done by the city, and questions as to exactly what employment provisions applied to the chief."

Hartford city manager Saundra Kee Borges had asked the state's attorney and Hartford police to investigate the chief back in February. The city manager said Dobson has improperly filed 95 hours on his time sheets, including 67 hours of comp time he was not entitled to.

Borges says the problematic record keeping was supposed to have been done by the chief.

Leon: "Was it that the chief was expected to police himself and that just didn't happen?"
Saundra Kee Borges, Hartford City Manager: "Absolutely. I point out to you this is a department head. This is the chief of a department. How much babysitting do you do for people that are in positions where you expect that they are going to be honorable. This is an honor system here."

Borges says honor based time keeping by department heads is now under review.

Chief Dobson declined to go on camera and answer questions.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.