Detroit Department of Transportation Officials Embroiled in Scandal Over Shielded "Romantic Interaction" with Bus Driver
A shocking investigation by the Detroit Office of Inspector General has revealed that senior officials within the city's Department of Transportation (DDOT) abused their authority to shield employees from disciplinary action after they engaged in a "romantic interaction" that resulted in bus service disruptions and waste of city resources.
According to the report, Senior Transportation Service Inspector Andre Reece and bus driver Dayna Ruff allegedly had an intimate encounter on May 6, which led to a 115-minute disruption of services. Two weeks later, they repeated their behavior, abandoning a running bus along Ruff's route and causing additional delays. The actions were deemed serious enough to warrant classification as a Class IV offense under DDOT's disciplinary system.
However, Superintendent of Operations Howard Bragg III issued only five-day suspensions for the two employees, despite the fact that the city employee handbook calls for a 30-day suspension without substantial mitigating circumstances. The OIG found that Bragg failed to conduct a thorough investigation before issuing discipline and did not consider the full impact of their actions on bus service.
The report also revealed that Assistant Director of Operations Andre Mallett was complicit in the lenient discipline, allowing it to stand even after learning of additional video evidence that substantiated the complaint. Moreover, Reece and Ruff failed to disclose their romantic relationship as required by a city executive order governing supervisor-subordinate relationships, and human resources officials failed to properly review or complete the necessary disclosure forms.
The investigation's findings are particularly troubling in Detroit, where residents rely heavily on DDOT buses for transportation. Service disruptions of more than an hour can have significant consequences for riders who already face chronic delays. The OIG recommended additional discipline for Reece and Ruff, punishment for Bragg and Mallett, and significant reforms to ensure future investigations are thorough, transparent, and consistent with written policy.
The scandal highlights systemic problems within DDOT's Operations Management Team, which the report concludes are not compliant or consistent with disciplinary policies mandated by the 2008 DDOT Employee Handbook. The OIG called for a system of procedures to allow more oversight over the review and issuing of discipline to ensure proportionate punishment and adherence to policies.
The incident raises questions about accountability within government agencies and the need for effective oversight mechanisms to prevent similar scandals in the future.
A shocking investigation by the Detroit Office of Inspector General has revealed that senior officials within the city's Department of Transportation (DDOT) abused their authority to shield employees from disciplinary action after they engaged in a "romantic interaction" that resulted in bus service disruptions and waste of city resources.
According to the report, Senior Transportation Service Inspector Andre Reece and bus driver Dayna Ruff allegedly had an intimate encounter on May 6, which led to a 115-minute disruption of services. Two weeks later, they repeated their behavior, abandoning a running bus along Ruff's route and causing additional delays. The actions were deemed serious enough to warrant classification as a Class IV offense under DDOT's disciplinary system.
However, Superintendent of Operations Howard Bragg III issued only five-day suspensions for the two employees, despite the fact that the city employee handbook calls for a 30-day suspension without substantial mitigating circumstances. The OIG found that Bragg failed to conduct a thorough investigation before issuing discipline and did not consider the full impact of their actions on bus service.
The report also revealed that Assistant Director of Operations Andre Mallett was complicit in the lenient discipline, allowing it to stand even after learning of additional video evidence that substantiated the complaint. Moreover, Reece and Ruff failed to disclose their romantic relationship as required by a city executive order governing supervisor-subordinate relationships, and human resources officials failed to properly review or complete the necessary disclosure forms.
The investigation's findings are particularly troubling in Detroit, where residents rely heavily on DDOT buses for transportation. Service disruptions of more than an hour can have significant consequences for riders who already face chronic delays. The OIG recommended additional discipline for Reece and Ruff, punishment for Bragg and Mallett, and significant reforms to ensure future investigations are thorough, transparent, and consistent with written policy.
The scandal highlights systemic problems within DDOT's Operations Management Team, which the report concludes are not compliant or consistent with disciplinary policies mandated by the 2008 DDOT Employee Handbook. The OIG called for a system of procedures to allow more oversight over the review and issuing of discipline to ensure proportionate punishment and adherence to policies.
The incident raises questions about accountability within government agencies and the need for effective oversight mechanisms to prevent similar scandals in the future.
. I mean, come on! You're supposed to be working for the city, not playing personal games. A 115-minute bus service disruption? That's just ridiculous! And to think they got away with only a five-day suspension? No way, man... that's just not right 
.
.
. We need more oversight and accountability in government agencies, not less 
.
. It's unacceptable that senior officials were able to get away with such a blatant disregard for protocol and policy. The fact that they were shielding each other from disciplinary action, while putting the public at risk of chronic delays on their bus service, is just appalling 
. I think it's clear that there needs to be a thorough overhaul of DDOT's operations management team to ensure accountability and transparency in the future 
.
u can't even imagine how messed up this situation is 
like whats next? someone gets away with just 5 days suspension cuz they're friends w/ someone high up 
meanwhile the rest of us are stuck on delayed buses for hours 
the whole thing just reeks of favoritism and lack of accountability 