Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

[13thnhv]

I'm not pulling the fire alarm here folks. Just passing along some breaking news:

GETTYSBURG TIMES OCTOBER 20, 2009
CLICK! Latschar viewed spicy photos on his work computer
BY SCOT ANDREW PITZER
Times Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 7:52 AM EDT
Federal investigators found more than 3,400 sexually-explicit images on a work computer belonging to Gettysburg Battlefield Supt. John Latschar, as part of a year-long review of alleged misconduct at the park.

Investigators discovered the pornographic photos when they visited the park in a probe by the Dept. of Interior Inspector General’s Office.

Latschar was cleared of criminal allegations in a 24-page report released last month by the office, but details about the inappropriate photos were omitted from the report.

He has not been charged with wrongdoing, and remains park superintendent.

An Aug. 7 memo obtained by The Washington Post from a federal investigator states: “Latschar’s inappropriate use of his government computer violates DOI policy.”

The memo also stated that Latschar signed a sworn statement acknowledging “that he had viewed inappropriate pictures on his government computer during work hours” over a two-year period, and that “he was aware of his wrongdoing while he was doing it.”

The investigator forwarded the report to NPS Acting Director Daniel Wenk for “whatever actions you deem appropriate.”

Via a spokesperson, Wenk called the matter a “personnel issue” and would not comment on whether disciplinary action was taken.

Latschar declined interview opportunities and Gettysburg National Military Park spokeswoman Katie Lawhon wrote in an email that the park “does not comment on personnel matters.”

NPS Assistant Regional Director of Communications Phil Sheridan wouldn’t confirm whether disciplinary actions have been taken against Latschar, explaining that privacy laws prevent the Park Service from releasing information “concerning any personnel actions.”

“(The park) does not comment on personnel matters that may — or may not — be ongoing,” said Sheridan, adding that the federal government is required to “respect an individual’s right to privacy.”

Sheridan explained that the Park Service has a strict computer policy that “does not condone any unauthorized use of computer equipment by employees.” Additionally, employees are required to take “annual training to remind them of their responsibilities for appropriate use of government computers,” per Sheridan.

“Under federal personnel rules, misuse of a government computer by federal employees carries with it a range of possible penalties,” Sheridan said.

The Inspector General’s Office would not comment on why the discovery of Latschar’s improper computer-use was omitted from the report.

Acting Inspector General Director Mary L. Kendall declined interview requests in a Washington Post article, printed Oct. 19.

Longtime park critic and Steinwehr Avenue businessman Eric Uberman called the IG review “disappointing,” citing the omitted information.

“It makes you wonder what else they left out of the report,” said Uberman.

Investigators dumped computer files when they probed the 17 allegations leveled against Latschar in the IG review, but did not say how they stumbled onto the pornographic images. The IG’s office seized Latschar’s hard drive as evidence.

The Washington Post article surfaced Monday, about three weeks after the IG’s report was released to the public, exonerating Latschar.

Last week, Latschar was lauded by a national preservation organization for his work in protecting and restoring the 6,000-acre battlefield.

Following the IG review, the Park Service announced that it was pleased with the report, which found no criminal violations by Latschar, and dismissed many allegations as street rumors.

The Washington Post reported that inappropriate use of government computers to view pornography has come up elsewhere, such as the National Science Foundation.

An IG report there led to “several reprimands” and the suspension of six employees.

A senior official spent up to “20 percent of his working hours” over a two-year period viewing inappropriate images.




Copyright © 2009 - Gettysburg Times

[celtfiddler]

Re: Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

For those interested in reading the actual report

http://www.doioig.gov/upload/Latschar%20ROI%20for%20web%20site1.pdf

[13thnhv]

Re: Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

Kimberly,

Thank you for posting that link.

I think I may have to take tomorrow off from work just to clear my head.

Corruption in all the wrong places..........

[508preach]

Re: Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

I dont see a problem.....everybody's doing it these days......its the bees knees. haha

[LWhite64]

Re: Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

Ugh. However as far as a Dream Job, far from it, being a superintendent would be a huge headache and highly political. However, sad Latschar has done some good work for the park, namely all of the historic scene restorations, which were politically unpopular. Also, reason why trying to look for anything online at work is such a nightmare now, security blocks everywhere.

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

Gettysburg Battlefield superintendent reassigned after leak of porn memo
By ERIN JAMES
For the Daily Record/Sunday News
Updated: 10/22/2009 07:05:15 AM EDT

As of Monday, John Latschar will no longer be the superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park.

Following the leak of a federal document that said he spent time at work searching for and viewing sexually explicit material, the 15-year steward of the Gettysburg Battlefield has been reassigned to a desk job within the National Park Service.

"Strangely enough, right now, in addition to the sorrow for the grief I've caused friends and family, I'm feeling almost a sense of relief," Latschar said when contacted Wednesday night. "I've spent the last 21 years of my life in the public arena, where everything I say or do is considered fair game.

"I think it's going to be nice to go to a desk job as a staff person working for somebody else who has to make all the decisions."

Reached at home and confronted with more details of the leaked Department of the Interior memo, Latschar spoke publicly for the first time about what he said is a flawed conclusion of the department's Office of the Inspector General.

He did, however, admit to searching for sexually explicit material "occasionally" during work hours between August 2004 and September 2006. Latschar compared the images he searched for to those featured in Playboy magazine.

That's not the only types of images, however, that Assistant Inspector General for Investigations John E. Dupuy said he found evidence of on the superintendent's hard drive in a memo addressed to acting National Park Service Director Daniel N. Wenk and obtained by The Evening Sun.

According to that document, Latschar "used his government computer to search for and view sexually-explicit images, including those of bestiality, group sex, and nudism."

Latschar denied at least some of the allegations.

"The only thing that I would like people to know is that I never deliberately searched for some of that stuff," he said. "I never ever, ever searched for group sex or bestiality."

Latschar said he would not use the term "pornography" to describe the type of images he willingly viewed.

"I know that's a term that's much debated by society, but I wasn't searching for any particular behaviors," he said. "There is no doubt that I'm guilty of improper use of a government computer. I would contest ... their written conclusions. But of course that's not possible."

News of the Inspector General's findings first became public Monday, when The Washington Post published a story citing the memo, presumably obtained from a government source, that stated Latschar used his office computer over a two-year period to view more than 3,400 sexually explicit images.

The Evening Sun has since obtained the same document, which also states that tens of thousands of images "of all types" were found on Latschar's computer hard drive. According to the memo, the 3,456 images cited by the Post article are "considered the most sexually-explicit."

Latschar said the federal investigators - who seized the superintendent's hard drive as part of a broader investigation that ultimately exonerated Latschar of other alleged wrongdoings - counted every image that resulted from an Internet search. That includes the bestiality and group-sex images Latschar said he neither sought nor viewed.

"The IG counted every single image," he said. "They just counted everything."

Latschar also said although "there's no excuse" for his behavior, he was "going through some rough personal and professional times" during the two years he searched for the sexually explicit images. He said he hasn't viewed such images since then.

According to the memo, Latschar also signed a sworn statement "acknowledging his wrongdoing and acknowledging that he was aware of the wrongdoing while he was doing it."

The superintendent has been both a popular and polarizing figure in Gettysburg since he began developing a new general-management plan for the park soon after taking over in 1994. His main project - the construction of a new park museum and visitor center - has been controversial since its inception. Many of his other policies have drawn both praise and criticism.

The Inspector General's investigation that ultimately led to the discovery of the images on Latschar's computer was prompted by the allegations of an anonymous complainant.

However, the 24-page report - which explored everything from Latschar's dealings with the private Gettysburg Foundation to an allegation that he used park money to buy a hot tub - never mentioned the sexually explicit images.

That's the way it should have remained, Latschar said. Government policy is to keep such matters private as personnel issues.

"One of the ironies here is that now it's public because somebody else violated the ... policy," Latschar said.

That's what would have happened, he said, if another Park Service employee had committed the same violations at Gettysburg and if it had been his decision how to handle the situation.

"We would have protected that employee's personal life," he said.

Numerous government officials expressed similar sentiments when asked for comment Tuesday and Wednesday before The Evening Sun obtained the memo or learned of Latschar's reassignment.

Officials at the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service and the Office of the Inspector General directed all questions to the Park Service's Northeast regional office in Philadelphia. A spokesman there declined comment beyond confirming on Tuesday that Latschar remained superintendent.

"We don't discuss personnel issues that may or may not be under investigation," said spokesman Phil Sheridan.

Asked if there is concern within the Gettysburg Foundation about how the accusations against Latschar reflected on the organization he worked to create, spokeswoman Dru Neil repeated her previous statement.

"From our perspective, obviously that's a personnel issue that has to be handled by the National Park Service," Neil said. "We're focusing on our preservation efforts for Gettysburg. That's what our focus is and will continue to be."

Wednesday may have been Latschar's final public appearance as superintendent.

At an 8:30 a.m. press conference hosted by the Journey Through Hallowed Ground partnership to announce its success in obtaining national scenic byway status for Route 15 from Gettysburg to Monticello, Latschar was lauded for his contribution to the project.

During her time at the podium, Journey Through Hallowed Ground President Cate Magennis Wyatt thanked Latschar for his work to unite the 13 National Park Service superintendents who manage the Civil War battlefields along the recognized heritage area.

"John has done more for the National Park Service, more for Gettysburg, than any one person could possibly achieve in a lifetime," Magennis Wyatt said. "Today would not have been possible without John."

Latschar also briefly addressed the crowd and said he had been "inspired" by the group's efforts and offered to help in the cause. Approached in the morning and asked to comment on the Post's article, Latschar declined.

That night, confronted with more details, Latschar agreed to talk.

"I've been afraid if I talked about this it's going to sound like I'm splitting hairs in a Clintonesque manner," he said. "My main objective right now is to try to prevent further embarrassment to family, friends and associates."

Online at: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_13616417

[celtfiddler]

Re: Perhaps a Dream Job Opening at Gettysburg NMP??

NPS ends silence on Latschar
Search for new battlefield superintendent could take six to eight months.
By ERIN JAMES
The Evening Sun

Posted: 10/24/2009 01:00:00 AM EDT



The National Park Service ended its weeklong silence Friday regarding management changes at Gettysburg National Military Park with its official announcement that John Latschar has been reassigned to a position in Frederick, Md., and that the park's current chief ranger will serve as superintendent for the time being.

Another announcement will be made early next week about who will serve as interim superintendent while the National Park Service conducts a nationwide search to replace Latschar, who lost his 15-year post as steward of the Gettysburg Battlefield having admitted to viewing sexually explicit material at work.

Latschar will report Monday to the Historic Preservation Training Center as a special assistant to the Park Service's associate director for cultural resources. He will continue to make $145,000 annually in his new position, said NPS spokesman David Barna.

Barna said the search for Latschar's replacement is expected to take between six and eight months. The Park Service will work with Civil War history and preservation organizations to "try to get as broad and diverse an applicant pool as we can," Barna said.

"We're going to take our time," he said.

As for why Latschar has been reassigned, Barna said that government privacy policies prohibit him from commenting.

"I can't talk about anything about him as individual," he said.

Asked why this is the best decision for Gettysburg National Military Park and the National Park

Service, Barna said he is still prohibited from commenting. He said he's not sure the Park Service will ever be able to address those questions publicly.
But, Barna added, Latschar is "free to say whatever - as an individual - whatever he wants to."

In an interview with The Evening Sun this week, the former superintendent said it is his understanding that the decision to demote him was that of Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, though the official letter came Thursday afternoon from the office of Latschar's immediate supervisor, NPS Director for the Northeast Region Dennis Reidenbach.

Latschar lost his position after a government memo detailing the superintendent's use of his office computer to view sexually explicit material was leaked to the media.

The memo - which The Evening Sun has since obtained - from the Department of the Interior's Office of the Inspector General stated that federal investigators had found evidence on Latschar's computer hard drive that he had searched for and viewed significant amounts of sexually explicit material.

Latschar said Thursday night that he thinks the demotion and reassignment to Frederick is "fair" given the circumstances.

"I think that's in the best interest of me and my family and Gettysburg National Military Park," he said.

On Friday - his last working for the National Park Service in Gettysburg - Latschar e-mailed his former employees to "offer you my heartfelt apologies for what has happened."

"My greatest prayer is that you will not let the circumstances of my departure tarnish the magnificent accomplishments you have achieved," he wrote.

Until the Park Service names an interim superintendent, Chief Ranger Brion FitzGerald - now Gettysburg's most senior official - will assume the duties, Barna said.

FitzGerald is a 31-year veteran of the National Park Service who came to Gettysburg in 1995 as chief of interpretation, protection and museum services. He has also had oversight over protection and museum services at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. He holds a bachelor's degree in park management from East Carolina University.

Barna said the interim superintendent will most likely be someone within the National Park Service who does not currently work in Gettysburg.

"Typically, people who are on the staff in the park aren't interested in being considered for the interim job if they're going to apply for the permanent job," Barna said. "We tend to not want someone in the interim job who actually might be considered for the permanent job. We don't want to give them sort of a head start."