by Nick Fishman

Kudos to the U.S. Capitol Police for knowing the importance of conducting a thorough background checks when hiring new employees.  They know that performing a proper background check is but one way to ensure that they can protect themselves and the people they serve.  They know that an effective background check can help mitigate the possibility of embarrassing facts coming to light after the time of hire.  They probably also know how much it costs to hire and train a new employee.

Feel like you’ve been set up?  We all have!  There’s only one problem with their policy:  It evidently didn’t include paying attention to the results of the background check!

According to the Washington Post, 15 recruits in the most recent class of trainees had to be let go after it was found that they had information on their background checks that would have disqualified them from employment.  Even worse, this information was contained on the background checks that were conducted.  They were just ignored and never read.

NOW GIVE ME MY KUDOS BACK!!!

See the full details below:

Top Personnel Official Pressured to Resign

Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 25, 2008; Page B04

Pressure is mounting on a top U.S. Capitol Police personnel official to resign in the wake of a scandal over the hiring of 15 recruits who had criminal records or other irregularities that should have disqualified them, officials said yesterday.

The Capitol Police human resources director, Jennifer McCarthy, was put on administrative leave several weeks ago in connection with the problem, according to police and congressional officials. She was told to resign by today or present strong evidence why she shouldn’t be fired, said congressional and police sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to comment on personnel matters.

McCarthy did not respond to a message left at her home phone number. She has denied any wrongdoing, according to one Capitol Police source.

The 15 police trainees, who make up about one-fourth of the latest group of recruits, were removed about halfway through a 12-week training course in Georgia and recalled to Washington over the weekend. They have been told they will be fired Friday if they haven’t resigned by then.

View the full story by clicking here

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