KDFWR ethics investigation

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Leaders of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources have violated state policy by using government property and employees for their own benefit, a government investigation found. The Office of Inspector General released findings from a months-long investigation on Monday, citing a variety of misuses of government resources, including instances in which managers used their influence to have free fish delivered to private ponds, a perk that isn't available to the general public.
"We fully intend to address the issues raised in the report's findings to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed and that the integrity of the department is maintained," said Stuart Ray, chairman of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, a nine-member board that oversees the agency.
The investigation found that in one instance, state employees were used on state time in a state vehicle to pick up building materials for the personal use of the former leader of the agency, Wildlife Commissioner Jonathan Gassett, who resigned in September while the investigation was underway.
Gassett said in an email message Monday that he hadn't seen the findings and wouldn't have any comment before reviewing them with his lawyer and taking "any necessary action."
Bill Haycraft, former president of the League of Kentucky Sportsmen and a longtime critic of the agency, said he wasn't surprised by the findings.
"We knew that this sort of thing was going on, but you couldn't prove it," Haycraft said.
The inspector general found that several leaders had been involved in using state employees to deliver free fish to private ponds.
Matt Sawyers, deputy secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, has temporarily taken over day to day management of the wildlife agency.
Gassett left the agency in September to take a job with the Wildlife Management Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Washington. In a letter to employees, Gassett wrote that he decided to leave after "many sleepless nights."
The wildlife agency had come under heightened scrutiny in recent years.
The inspector general said rank-and-file employees of the agency had also worked at Gassett's house, using agency pumps and fans to remove water from a flooded crawlspace.
"They had little means by which to object to an order given to them by a supervisor, even though some of the employees had reservations about the work they were being directed to do," the inspector general wrote in a 59-page report. "There was also present the fear of retaliation for refusal to follow a manager's directive."
The inspector general's office called for "appropriate disciplinary action" to be considered against people found to have violated agency regulations or state laws, and called for steps to be taken to protect employees who cooperated in the investigation against retaliation.

Link to 59 page report
[url]http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2013/12/09/17/18/Uyavt.So.79.pdf[/url]


A couple excerpts
"By an email dated September 4, 2012, KINMAN requested of MARPLE “about 225 farm pond catfish in Oct. for Comm. Glenn” (EXHIBIT). According to MARPLE, KINMAN picked up 225 fish weighing a total of 2.2 pounds from MARPLE on or about October 18, 2012. KINMAN picked up the fish after normal working hours and personally delivered the fish to LEE. KINMAN admitted during his interview that LEE was not charged for this fish delivery.

f. By an email dated April 3, 2013, (EXHIBIT) KINMAN contacted MARPLE regarding the delivery of more fish to LEE at the request of GLENN. The email stated:
“Commissioner Glenn recd some catfish last fall for a 1.5 acre pond. If u recall, I moved the fish for him. We now need some LMB since a LMB source for the pond did not materialize (I can explain later). This pond had a serious fish kill 1 year ago and they are trying to jump start after Fisheries checked and said they needed bass and catfish. If you get your hands on some bass this spring, I will come and load and move for him.”

g. MARPLE forwarded that email to OIGSS. When he forwarded the email, he stated:
“This is the e-mail thread regarding Com. Glenn’s pond remedial stocking. We shipped about 35 of the ½-3/4 lb fish which would be about 12” maximum. A few may have been a little larger. (Smaller 5” fish from the Minor Clark Hatchery would not have been available till October)”

On June 7, 2012, WILLIAMS conducted a technical guidance (TG) on the pond located on GODBY’s private property (EXHIBIT). WILLIAMS told OIGSS that he would normally recommend a private landowner purchase 4”-6” fish from a private hatchery for restocking purposes. WILLIAMS could not recall, and the TG form does not reflect, any recommendations as to fish stocking other than “thin out skinny bass.”
k. At some later date, GODBY called KINMAN and requested “some catfish”. As GODBY recounted, KINMAN asked GODBY about the size of the pond “and that’s about it.”
l. KINMAN contacted MARPLE at the Pfeiffer hatchery in Frankfort via email on May 3, 2013 (EXHIBIT). He asked MARPLE if the department could provide GODBY with some channel catfish. According to MARPLE, 150 catfish, 6”-7” in length, with a total weight of 10 pounds were set aside for delivery to GODBY.
m. KINMAN then bypassed the normal chain of command (BROOKS and BUYNAK) and made direct contact with ROBERTS to set up the fish delivery to GODBY.
HILTON was an employee of the department at the time and was directed by ROBERTS to deliver the fish to GODBY in spring 2013. HILTON said he was tasked by ROBERTS to deliver the fish to GODBY’s personal pond, but expressed his concern to ROBERTS that it was unethical. ROBERTS then called KINMAN and explained HILTON’s fears. KINMAN spoke with HILTON. During this conversation, HILTON voiced concerns about whether the delivery was ethical. According to KINMAN, HILTON asked, “Is this okay with all that is going on in the papers right now, to stock these fish?” KINMAN told HILTON, “If the truck is going there and we aren’t expending any state funds—it’s going that way anyway and we have the excess fish, fill out a stocking card and keep it on record…As long as these fish are going on a regular haul and we’re not making a special trip, spending state funds, that we’ve done this in the past.”
o. The fish were subsequently delivered to GODBY’s private pond by HILTON. GODBY was aware there was supposed to be a charge for the fish delivery. GODBY was never billed by the department for the fish delivery.
p. GODBY, being aware that OIGSS was investigating KDFW, made an attempt to pay for the fish delivery. He mailed a check dated August 10, 2013, in the amount of $200 to the department (EXHIBIT). KINMAN, after receiving the check, called GODBY and asked him if he was attempting to pay for the fish due to the pending investigation. According to GODBY, KINMAN attempted to explain the fish delivery by telling GODBY the fish that were delivered to him were “leftover” and delivered by a state vehicle that “happened” to be in the area.

KINMAN returned the check to GODBY in an envelope postmarked August 28, 2013 (EXHIBIT). KINMAN, during his interview, attempted to rationalize the decision to return the check by saying, “How could I take a check for a fee for a program we don’t have, but we do have a way to give away free ones?” The response to that question, and the finding by OIGSS is that no delivery of fish was legally authorized and there is no legitimate program for giving away free fish to a private landowner.
r. KINMAN admitted that there is not an official program at KDFW that provides for the free delivery of fish to private landowners. In an attempt to explain how fish could be delivered for free to a private landowner in the absence of an authorizing statute or regulation, KINMAN stated that the fish delivered in this manner were “excess” and the department has not developed a program to distribute excess fish because they do not plan for excess. He also claimed that landowners find out about the excess fish by “word of mouth”. KINMAN also admitted that legislator and commission member concerns are prioritized by the department.

The total fallout is still TBD I'm sure. Sounds like a few guys with SEVERAL years of service will go down tarnished.

You can bet that the Elk draw is rigged!!!!

Why don't they publish who won?
All our sportsman dollars gone to people who don't care what they do.
Total Arrogance !

They should go to Jail and Pick up trash on the side of the Road

Bout **** time!!! Hope they take there trophy deer,otters, and elk and shove them up their ***.

Don't forget about the ducks too
[url]http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Report-sheds-light-on-rigged-hunting-drawings-235662721.html[/url]

Some more allegations:
A. Allegations contained in anonymous complaint that resulted in OIGSS investigation
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Jon GASSETT:
GASSETT allegedly used Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (herein, KDFW) employee labor, equipment, and supplies for personal use; and used his position as commissioner for personal benefit:
1. Instructed KDFW employees to bring KDFW equipment, including pumps and fans, to his personal residence and pump water out of his flooded crawlspace during work hours.
2. Used his position as KDFW commissioner to promote his personal businesses.
3. Used KDFW equipment and boats for his personal consulting business.
4. Removed KDFW decals from KDFW boats in order to utilize the boats for personal use.
5. Directed Facilities Maintenance Branch (FMB) workshop (a.k.a. woodshop, herein, the shop) employees to construct furniture, including a cabinet, for his home using KDFW tools and materials during work hours.
6. KDFW employees used state owned lumber and equipment to construct a deck at his residence.
7. KDFW employees installed countertops and cabinets made from KDFW lumber in his home.
8. Decorated the front porch of his personal residence with confiscated elk antlers.
9. Asked KDFW employees to make repairs to his personal lawn equipment during work hours at the shop.
10. Useda KDFW bulldozer for work on his farm in Bald Knob.
11. Asked a KDFW employee to do free electrical work at his personal residence.
12. Put a mounted black bear belonging to KDFW in his house.
13. Gave special KDFW elk hunting permits to an organization with the condition that they hire his father as their elk-hunting guide.
14. Incurred excessive travel expenses.
15. Intimidated KDFW employees.
16. Alienated members of the General Assembly, LRC, Governor’s office, legislators, and other organizations.
17. Opposed stipend granted to officers of the KDFW Law Enforcement Division in 2012.

Engineering Technical Associate III John AKERS—former supervisor at the FMB shop:
AKERS allegedly misused equipment and supplies owned by KDFW, utilized state inmate workers and FMB employees for personal projects, and abused his authority as a KDFW employee:
1. Stored and constructed items using confiscated antlers at the shop instead of destroying them as required by statute.
2. Took elk antlers from the shop when removing his personal property.
3. Supervised and constructed furniture, including elk antler tables, elk antler mirrors, elk antler coat racks, turkey calls, canes, a wine cabinet and marble countertops, using state materials and labor for personal use by employees.
4. Repeatedly took KDFW equipment from the shop for personal use, including an air compressor, nail gun, nails, and an air hose, leaving employees without tools to do their jobs.
5. Took two dozen 4x4 treated posts from the shop for personal use.
6. Made a boat for personal use using KDFW materials and tools at the shop.
7. Took a boat from the shop while removing his personal property.
8. Asked a KDFW employee to perform free electrical work at GASSETT’s home.
9. Instructed a KDFW employee to purchase a piece of frosted glass for a wine cabinet he constructed at the shop for GASSETT.
10. Had marble countertops delivered to and stored at the shop for GASSETT, which may have been installed at GASSETT’s home by KDFW employees.
11. Repaired GASSETT’s canoe at the shop using state time, materials, and possibly inmate labor.
12. Took employees and KDFW fans to GASSETT’s residence to help clean up after a waterline break.
13. Took state inmate worker George EADS to work at GASSETT’s residence.
14. Bought lunch for inmate workers after they repaired personal items for him, including lawn equipment, furniture, a KDFW All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), and other equipment.
15. Took the state inmate worker George EADS to Louisville to see his wife.
16. Took half of a sack of clover seed belonging to KDFW from the shop for personal use at his farm.
17. Took department cutting harrows to use at his farm.
18. Tampered with new KDFW weed eaters and placed them in a KDFW auction in order to buy the “faulty” weed eaters cheaply at auction.
19. Repaired and then took a KDFW ATV.
20. Rigged a Commissioner’s elk tag drawing to get a tag.
21. Mistreated KDFW employees by accusing them of theft.

Additional allegations involving KDFW:
1. Improper transfers of funds among various department divisions at KDFW.
2. Excessive amount of money, including personnel costs, spent on the construction of a wildlife-holding pen at the Salato Wildlife Center.
3. Excessive amount of money spent by Wildlife Division’s Mussel Research Facility.
4. Wildlife Division employees made unnecessary purchases at the Bass Pro Shop in Indiana.
5. Unauthorized use of Pro-cards by KDFW employees.
6. KDFW property improperly recorded as surplus.

B. Allegations uncovered during OIGSS investigation
1. Free fish deliveries to individuals in violation of regulation.
2. Department employees using a state-owned tractor for their personal benefit.
3. Violations by commission members in reserving hunting days and duck blinds for themselves at the Ballard Wildlife Management Area.
4. Specific allegations of ethical misconduct against KDFW commission member James ANGEL by the Kentucky League of Sportsmen.
5. Allegations raised by ANGEL that department employees violated KRS 150.081 by attempting to interfere with his reappointment to the commission.
6. GASSETT improperly obtaining rotenone from department for his personal benefit.
7. GASSETT improperly taking advantage of discounted Fed-Ex rates provided to state agencies for his personal benefit.
8. GASSETT consuming alcohol to the point of intoxication at functions relating to his employment with the department and subsequently driving while impaired.
9. Necessity of firearms possession by upper management at KDFW and level of training required of the Law Enforcement Division director.
10. Questionable management decision regarding conservation officers issuing alcohol intoxication citations.
11. Issue regarding new radio purchases by the department.
12. Improper use of funds in procuring land (Layton Register complaint).
13. Prearranged agreements to rehire employees following their retirement.
14. Confiscated firearms being lost by the department.

I'm just waiting to hear about some back door deals regarding the catfish problem we have been fighting...

WOW.... What an absolute shame! This outfit sounds as if it has been corrupt and out of control for a long time.

I read everything above and can't believe there's another 59 pages of the report. These people need to pay dearly!

This sheds a little light on how some people consistently get drawn for the deer quota hunts while others get drawn only every 5+ years. This being said there seems to be a friendly link between kdfwr commissioners and some locals.

I'd be willing to bet that Jon Gassett and Richie Farmer are buddies.

Wow................no I mean Wow...

While I have been critical at times about some of their practices I had no idea some of these allegations were being leveled. Now I do believe in due process and innocent until proven guilty this does raise my eyebrows quite a bit. I bet Jim Strader is on this like a Chicken on a June bug. I have never been drawn for the Elk hunt but I have been drawn for Fort Knox quota hunts everytime I have ever entered back in the day but I haven't tried in years so maybe that would have changed..

Strader reported some of these type of things years ago. A lot of people thought he had a vendetta because KDFWR backed out of his show. I believe it was the other way around now, even though he lost his lawsuit. I'm also disappointed there wasn't more brought up on elk land deals. Perhaps there's more in the detailed report.

The League of Kentucky Sportsmen is the only watchdog group to follow-up on these type of things. I will be renewing my membership this upcoming year.

I'm glad this all came out. No surprise, though, once you read:

GASSETT:
16. Alienated members of the General Assembly, LRC, Governor’s office, legislators, and other organizations.

Not real swooft on his part.

I have read everything lowrider posted and I don't see anything wrong with what they are doing and have no idea why you are upset with any of these allegations---- but I am from Illinois so I am probably use to this. "Illinois is where the governors make the license plates". I have to admit it is kinda nice to see some one other than Illinois has corruption problems.

Anyone that's paid attention long enough knows my passion is protecting the OH River catfish. KY has fallen woefully short at conserving this resource. But, "things are changing" and my fingers are crossed. Easy to connect the dots that retired wildlife guys are now commercial fisherman and the good ole boy network was alive and well. Maybe it's a leap. Who knows. Their jobs are too important for all this silly chit to have been going on. Our IG is not done yet and I'm sure more will come out...