Mayor A C Wharton continues to demonstrate that he's determined to end employee wrongdoing in city government.

Commercial Appeal: Staff Reports

No matter how a city administrative investigation into the Community Enhancement Division turns out, it's good to see that rooting out malfeasance in city government is still a top priority in the administration of Mayor A C Wharton.

City officials are investigating whether high-ranking employees in the division used city time, resources and workers for private business. The agency was created by four years ago by former mayor Willie Herenton to battle inner-city blight.

It's the latest city division to be investigated for improper activities by employees since Wharton took office on Oct. 26, 2009, after a special election to fill the remaining two years of Herenton's fifth term. The mayor won a full four-year term in October.

His administration's determination to root out corruption was confirmed during a City Council committee meeting Tuesday when he told council members that the probe didn't result from an outside tip, but is "an example of the city policing itself."

The division's interim director, Johnie McKay, and a division manager were placed on administrative leave while the probe continues. Another manager, who retired this month, is under review. A vacationing foreman will be placed on disciplinary review when he returns to work.

Results of the administrative probe, when finished, will be turned over to state and federal prosecutors to review for possible prosecution, the mayor said.

Earlier investigations into wrongdoing inside the city General Services Division and another investigation into thefts at the city's impound lot should have made it clear to all city employees that the mayor was serious about stamping out wrongdoing and ethical violations in city government.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that on most jobs, using company resources for personal gain is frowned upon. In the case of government workers, it's akin to embezzling tax dollars to supplement an employee's lifestyle or private business activities.

In the case of Community Enhancement, any wrongdoing by division employees takes valuable and scarce resources away from solving one of the city's most pressing issues -- rehabilitating blighted areas while trying to slow the spread of blight in the city.

A sense of entitlement has brought down a number of state and local elected officials who used their positions for personal gain.

Unfortunately, there still are government employees who have that same sense of entitlement.