The resignation of a child protection investigator accused of falsifying documents has prompted changes in how the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office handles child abuse cases.
An internal affairs probe found that investigator Heather Stokes falsified and/or fabricated 25 investigations, seven of them completely.
Stokes said she made up details and forged signatures on one investigation because she was "overwhelmed" with cases, according to an internal affairs report. The seven-year veteran resigned a day after being confronted by investigators.
Stokes was one of two child protection investigators to resign since April after being accused of falsifying documents.
No children or families were harmed as a result of any of the fabrications, according to documents obtained by The Tampa Tribune....more.
An internal affairs probe found that investigator Heather Stokes falsified and/or fabricated 25 investigations, seven of them completely.
Stokes said she made up details and forged signatures on one investigation because she was "overwhelmed" with cases, according to an internal affairs report. The seven-year veteran resigned a day after being confronted by investigators.
Stokes was one of two child protection investigators to resign since April after being accused of falsifying documents.
No children or families were harmed as a result of any of the fabrications, according to documents obtained by The Tampa Tribune....more.
Oh really...
Now, really, does anyone in their right minds believe that the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office would turn over federal documents, verifying evidence of False Claims to the local rag? Perhaps there are actually persons who are walking around believing that the Sheriff's Office would incriminate itself by publicizing that children were kidnapped and placed in foster care, parents suffered emotional and psychological pain, fraudulent conversion of Social Security numbers, I could go on and on but I believe I have made my point.
The best part about this, all these data were sent up through SACWIS to chart the rate of child abuse and neglect, further supporting my position that the national datawarehouses contain data that are suspect and flat out bogus.
Of course, Florida never corrected data nor amended the reports of the courts or the state.
So, this worker, Heather Stokes, resigns and goes on to perform 200 hours of community service after committing federal fraud, and everything is now okie dokie.
How about the taxpayers, who have children and families? Does this fraud endanger the nation's economic treasure of Social Security?
How about the families and children who would have benefitted from these dollars Heather Stokes defrauded the taxpayer.
The article goes on to say "more than 70 child welfare workers in Florida were caught lying about their efforts to protect children." That looks like a pattern of practice because those were only the workers who were "caught".
Sheriff spokesperson Larry McKinnon goes on to say, "We're imperfect." They are not imperfect; they are pathetic. Statements like this shows me that there are no state internal controls of regulation and definitely no intradepartmental policy for oversight or training.
I see fraud.
H.E.A.T. is in Florida as we speak investigating and filing charges to end Medicare and Medicaid Fraud.
There are lots of attorneys in Florida, and if not a pro hac vice only costs a few bucks.
Let's see who files the first lawsuit.
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