Information about Miller: "Somewhere it got stuck," said J. Morris
Tomorrow's story today.
Click below to get the full.
The big news? What's new here is two things: One, the mayor's office acknowledging that accountability was subpar and information wasn't flowing through the chain of command.
The second new revelation is that Police police were ultimately keyed into Miller by a county employee. Not sure who this person is or why they reported Miller, but they did.
This is significant because it appears that after becoming aware of allegations of possible sexual misconduct on June 27, city officials apparently never did contact police. They were beaten to that punch by the county social service worker.
By Robert Rogers and Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- Before he was jailed on more than 20 charges of child molestation, Operation Phoenix center manager Mike Miller had a four-month string of misconduct which went unnoticed by the Mayor's Office.
When shown a July 8 memo written by Glenda Martin Robinson, Miller's supervisor, chronicling Miller's missteps, Mayoral Chief of Staff Jim Morris said mistakes were made in addressing the disgraced employees increasingly erratic behavior.
"If this information is complete, it is unacceptable that it should take four to five months for such workplace misconduct to be investigated and appropriate action taken," said Jim Morris, speaking on behalf of Mayor Pat Morris, who was locked in meetings before Monday's City Council session.
"This does display that it took four to five months to even bring forward a solid recommendation; we must have better accountability than that."
But Jim Morris stressed that the mayor's office knew of no misconduct or allegations regarding Miller until Wednesday morning, when he said Police Chief Michael Billdt called the mayor to inform him of an investigation into alleged molestation.
"Had we known about this we would have demanded more expedient accountablity,"
Morris said, adding that he still wasn't certain where the flow of information regarding Miller "got stuck."
After four months and a half-dozen incidents of documented misconduct, including allegedly shutting off surveillance equipment at a youth center and paticipating in BB gun fights, Miller was reported to police by a county worker.
The report to police on the afternoon of July 1 came more than 96 hours and at least two work shifts for Miller after Martin-Robinson, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Hawkins and former Operation Phoenix Director Glenn Baude exchanged e-mails about "possible sexual involvement with a minor during work hours."
No city official has said they called police. Instead, according to three high level sources requesting anonymity because of an ongoing investigation into the issue by the District Attorney's Office, a county Child Protective Services worker reported Miller's possible molestations. Miller was arrested July 3 and later charged with molesting three young girls and possessing child pornography. He is held on $1 million bail.
What has since become clear is that the city's parks and recreation system is plagued by problems.
During an interview at The Sun last week, Mayor Morris complained that his office asked parks staffers for policies outlining responses to suspected molestation and was told no such policy could be unearthed.
"We said it was totally unacceptable," Pat Morris said.
"We've found major cancers," he added.
Morris' statement showed a clear shift in outlook. On July 3, the day of Miller's arrest, the Mayor said there was "no cancer" afflicting Operation Phoenix.
New details have highlighted management to show that Operation Phoenix and Parks and Recreation have suffered troubles which the Mayor's Office is now scrambling to solve.
Acknowledging a murky management structure, Morris placed aide Kent Paxton in a coordinating role last week, dropping Baude from Phoenix's top post.
The attempt at reform has already met opposition, as City Attorney James F. Penman and Councilwoman Wendy McCammack said the City Charter does not allow mayoral staffers to direct city programs.
"The mayor doesn't have authority to implement that reorganization plan," McCammack said.
McCammack also seized an opportunity to criticize the Morris for not being aware of months of problems in Parks and Recreation.
"This is pretty indicative of someone having a grand, super programs and not knowing whether the i's have been dotted and the t's crossed," she said.
But the reorganization plan as written doesn't call for Paxton to directly supervise city staffers.
Councilman Tobin Brinker said the concept looks like a step in the right direction.
"We need to have clear lines of authority and who's responsible for what," Brinker said.
Brinker went on to say that "the bright light of scrutiny has shown" problems within Parks and Recreation. He said he remains confident that Hawkins to remedy the situation.
Comments
These are all lies, the mayor and his staff are lying on the P&R department.
Posted by: concerned citizen | July 21, 2008 7:24 PM
Mayor Morris is a retired Superior Court Judge. He asks his staffers what the policy is for reporting suspected child molestation? I think if you apply the "reasonable person standard", which the Mayor should be familiar with, the answer whould be IMMEDIATELY!
Posted by: SB watcher | July 21, 2008 7:30 PM
Robert & Andrew:
Thank you for continuing to provide clarity and understanding about this unfortunate situation.
I would like to delve into a specific aspect of this story that is a new revelation.
I was previously under the impression that although there was a delay in the reporting (and perhaps, a violation of the law on the part of Glenn Baude and/or Kevin Hawkins) of the allegations of the molestation, they were actually reported to the San Bernardino Police Department by the City of San Bernardino.
Thus, I was incredibly eager to learn when the Mayor first learned about these allegations and wanted some light as to how the decision to contact SBPD was reached.
However, this report suggests that Glenn Baude and Kevin Hawkins never contacted the SBPD. Even more alarming is that it is quite possible that this alleged molestation would have continued unless this county worker had intervened.
Heretofore, I have attempted to reserve judgment of Glenn Baude and Kevin Hawkins. I still view Kevin Hawkins in a sympathetic light as I believe he appeared to act in good faith by reporting these incidents through the chain of command.
However, Baude's actions, or should I say, inaction is troubling.
Not only did he fail to report this information, the Morris Administration is stating that they were never informed by Baude or anyone else.
On Friday, Mayor Morris & Company met with Steve Lambert and others at the San Bernardino Sun. During part of the interview, Mayor Morris contended that it would be improper to rush to judgment or look to hang his subordinates until an investigation was conducted.
We still don't know all the facts, but if Mayor Morris is to be believed, Glenn Baude left them completely in the dark about the allegations of molestation and an unknown list of other subordinates left them in the dark about Miller's shenanigans over the last four months.
At what point do any of these staffers get held accountable?
Posted by: Joseph Turner | July 21, 2008 8:25 PM
Looks to me from what i read here, that one of the very first people to know about the behaviour of Mike Miller, was his Supervisor, Glenda Martin Robinson S.B. Parks and Recreation. Now what kept her from reporting him right away. Was she covering her own butt. What kind of supervisor is she? Or is she to busy with the local t.v. station doing her little cooking show and trying to impress her friends while kids are being hurt, under her supervision.
Well ,It looks like she can also be on the firing line. Whats the Cities policy, When is somebody going to go to jail or lose their job?
Now wait a minute, is she the same person that oversee's a large drill team on the cities westside. If my kids where involved, i would be really concerned, that she has failed to report things, Things that she has heard and seen, and probably won't tell parents because she does not want to look bad..
By the way is this a city program or is this her own. Who carries the insurance for this program. I would hate for the city to get sued because of Glenda Martin Robinsons previous failure to report.
Posted by: joe hern | July 21, 2008 8:58 PM
I know that judges can become people who live in ivory towers, but just how detached from reality is Morris?
He acts as though the Parks and Recreation Department was some separate object, not a municipal department under his control. Operation Pheonix was the keynote program of his administration, yet the public is expected to believe that all of this went on and on without Morris having an inkling?
Either Morris is being disingenuous or he is an epic incompetent who has no place serving in a public office.
To think that this nincompoop spent three decades sitting in a courtroom handling juvenile and family law cases is appalling. The public has the right to expect officials who hold such posts to be resoponsible and accountable, not ineffectual klutzes like Morris.
Posted by: oldcynic | July 21, 2008 10:02 PM
Rumor has it that the nincompoop was quietly and slowly exiled from the judicial system due to his inability to actually punish the guilty in his courtroom. When you have no cases in front of you it is kind of hard to be a judge.
So then you go run for Mayor!
Posted by: Joe | July 21, 2008 10:13 PM
We the citizens, the voters must continue to ask, who is/was accountable of Operation Phoenix? Also, who is running this town. The elected officials, or the appointed ones who account to no one but their Dads. This entire responsibility has become a pea game of who is accountable. How can major personnel problems be ongoing in the City’s pet project for months and the person who is supposed to be responsible and accountable for leadership and corrective actions is totally unaware? Is this gross negligence and if so, on who’s part? This is yet another indicator the Mayor is unable to manage this program. What other issues within our city that he is clueless about? Is it the job of Mayor is much greater than his capabilities allow for? Or is it that his Chief Executive filters and shields the information that should go to the Mayor and only the Mayor? Who is running this town? Who was elected? If the Chief Executive wants to run this town, he should run for office.
A clear defined chain of command is lacking here in San Bernardino and this Operation Phoenix catastrophe is a classic result of what can happen. The Mayor was elected to run the City, not it’s specific programs. You hire experts to run the programs. Someone who has the training, time and knowledge to assure it is run with the users and cities best interest in mind at all times. With programs like Operation Phoenix, the leader MUST keep his hand on the pulse of the program to know the health of the program at all times to effectively provide the leadership and management necessary. Can this be done from City Hall? This has not happened. It is time to hear from Mayor Pat Morris, NOT Jim Morris. The voters await to hear from their elected official.
Posted by: Reader Bob | July 22, 2008 5:41 AM
We the citizens, the voters must continue to ask, who is/was accountable of Operation Phoenix? Also, who is running this town. The elected officials, or the appointed ones who account to no one but their Dads. This entire responsibility has become a pea game of who is accountable. How can major personnel problems be ongoing in the City’s pet project for months and the person who is supposed to be responsible and accountable for leadership and corrective actions is totally unaware? Is this gross negligence and if so, on who’s part? This is yet another indicator the Mayor is unable to manage this program. What other issues within our city that he is clueless about? Is it the job of Mayor is much greater than his capabilities allow for? Or is it that his Chief Executive filters and shields the information that should go to the Mayor and only the Mayor? Who is running this town? Who was elected? If the Chief Executive wants to run this town, he should run for office.
A clear defined chain of command is lacking here in San Bernardino and this Operation Phoenix catastrophe is a classic result of what can happen. The Mayor was elected to run the City, not it’s specific programs. You hire experts to run the programs. Someone who has the training, time and knowledge to assure it is run with the users and cities best interest in mind at all times. With programs like Operation Phoenix, the leader MUST keep his hand on the pulse of the program to know the health of the program at all times to effectively provide the leadership and management necessary. Can this be done from City Hall? This has not happened. It is time to hear from Mayor Pat Morris, NOT Jim Morris. The voters await to hear from their elected official.
Posted by: Reader Bob | July 22, 2008 5:43 AM
Good Morning All,
Yes Glenda Robinson knew first hand and she was his boss, which means she is a guilty as he is.like I said yesterday I would just have to get fired for telling what was going on.Is there an Honor system in the parks and recreation? I don't care,I don't care I don't care,If it was known it should have been shown.How can any of these people sleep at night knowing what is going on and not tell.sometimes the chain of command needs a link broken.closet cases are a danger to our kids.But if it were their kids it would be plastered all over the news and papers. Please do what's right by our kids.
Posted by: LINDA | July 22, 2008 10:02 AM
Mayor Morris,
I do believe you need 1 (one) person to head o.p and they need to answer to you and you only.this is your baby that you delivered and now it's time to nurture it. no matter what the goings on now you know you can't trust the smiling faces.
Posted by: LINDA | July 22, 2008 10:06 AM
Mr. Mayor - Show the people how much you trust your creation, Operation Phoenix. Send your grandkids down to enjoy the centers unattended. No mommy, no daddy, no granny, no grandpa. If you believe in this program so much then send what is most precious to you down there. Hey you even have better chances than all those other kids did since the alleged sexual predator is already locked up. You just have to hope there isn’t another one in the batch. And besides it would make a great photo opportunity.
Posted by: Mike | July 22, 2008 10:22 AM
I'm reading lots of dissatisfaction with our mayor, his administration, and his program. I have one question - how many of you voted for this mayor?
Posted by: another concerned citizen | July 22, 2008 10:27 AM
Hey! I've got an idea. Let stage a sit-in to protest Operation Phoenix. I know the Mayor will appreciate it being the liberal Haight-Ashbury type of hippie that oldcynic accuses him of being.
OH DARN! We don’t have a “not employee” with city resources to publicize it for us so I guess we have to wait until Baby Morris decides to throw Daddy Morris under the bus. Then he can publicize it for us.
Posted by: Joe | July 22, 2008 10:43 AM
I didn't!
Posted by: Jane | July 22, 2008 11:15 AM