The State Worker: State releases latest report on workers' improper activities

The State Worker

Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

October 2, 2008

State releases latest report on workers' improper activities

The State Bureau of Audits has released its latest report of improper employee activity. Our colleague Andrew McIntosh reports the details in this story. You can read the 71-page report by clicking here. The bureau also issued this summary fact sheet.

The audit reminds us of the many anonymous letters, e-mails and phone calls that we receive alleging that state workers have broken rules, taken money or abused their position.

We appreciate the information, and when we can, we follow up. If you're thinking about sending us a tip, there are a few things that you can do to help us investigate it:

Be specific: Names, money amounts, dates and times all lend credence to an accusation and help us narrow the scope of our investigation.

Provide documents: Paper trails are the strongest evidence. If you can't get the documents, tell us who wrote them or who we should ask for them.

Be ready for skepticism: A responsible reporter always asks tough questions before going public with a story that could put someone's reputation or livelihood at stake. So don't be surprised if you get grilled.

Be patient: Investigations can take weeks or months to complete. If you tell us something today, don't expect a story in The Bee tomorrow.

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