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CONFIDENTIAL
TO: Dr. Torres-Rodriguez, Superintendent FROM: Leander Dolphin Shipman & Goodwin LLP DATE: April 22, 2019 RE: Investigation Summary You requested that I investigate a complaint filed by an employee
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 against Dr. José Colon-Rivas, Chief Operations Officer, which was initially received by Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos. I met with the employee on January 31, 2019 to review the allegations. Specifically, the employee made the following allegations: 1.
 
In January 2018, Dr. Colon-Rivas asked the employee to submit his receipt for a purchase of Dunkin Donuts ($30.17) for reimbursement with the employee
s own request for reimbursement. Although the employee was uncomfortable with Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ request,
the employee submitted the request for reimbursement. When the employee received the reimbursement, the employee provided Dr. Colon-Rivas with cash for the amount of his receipt. 2.
 
In October 2018, Dr. Colon-Rivas submitted a request for three (3) days of vacation time. After receiving approval by Dr. Vázquez Matos of this request, Dr. Colon-Rivas directed the employee to enter the time off as sick time. Although the employee was uncomfortable with Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ direction,
the employee entered the time off as directed. The employee also alleges that in January 2019, Dr. Colon-Rivas requested vacation time, and after it was approved, he again directed the employee to enter the time off as sick time. The employee indicated that after a notice was issued reminding employees that changing time after approval was prohibited, Dr. Colon-Rivas asked the employee if the employee had reported his request, and directed the employee to hold off on entering the time off. 3.
 
Dr. Colon-Rivas has engaged in conduct meant to intimidate the employee, by telling the employee that Dr. Torres-Rodriguez and Dr. Vázquez Matos were angry with the employee for mistakes the employee made. The employee apologized to Dr. Vázquez Matos, who indicated that he had not been upset with the employee. Similarly, the employee apologized to Dr. Torres-
 
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The employee’s name and identity has been
removed from this report to protect the employee, who is concerned about retaliation for filing the complaint.
 
 
PAGE 2 Rodriguez, who responded that she was not upset with the employee and was not aware of the alleged mistake (relating to a scheduling error). 4.
 
On or about May 30, 2018, Dr. Colon-Rivas directed the employee to purchase a projector from Office Depot. On June 25, 2018, the employee contacted Office Depot to inquire about the status of the projector, and was informed that the projector had been delivered on June 4, 2018. On the following day, the projector was found in Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ office. Since that time,
the employee has been unclear as to the whereabouts of the projector. 5.
 
On or about May 14, 2018, Dr. Colon-Rivas ordered technology and equipment from Apple totaling $7,578.00. The items ordered were: 2 MacBook Pros (totaling $5,016.00); 1 iMac ($1,368.00); 2 AirPods ($318.00); and 2 iPad Minis (totaling $876.00). Dr. Colon-Rivas did not deliver the equipment to those he had indicated they had been purchased for (i.e., Central Registration at Hartford High, Security). The employee has been unclear as to the whereabouts of this technology/equipment. 6.
 
The employee is afraid that the employee will be retaliated against for filing the complaint.
INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED:
Complainant
Dr. José Colon-Rivas,
 Respondent
Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Alberto Vázquez Matos, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Maureen Coleman, Executive Director, Financial Management Albert Abaaho, Senior Accountant, Fixed Asset Administrator Marcos Rivera, Print Shop Anthony Cruz, Print Shop
DOCUMENTS REVIEWED
 
Complaint document and related artifacts
 
Purchase orders; correspondence regarding same
 
Hartford Board of Education Operating Procedure: Employee Reimbursements
 
Hartford Board of Education Policy No. 4118.6 (Acceptable Computer Network Use)
 
Hartford Public Schools Business and Non-Instructional Operations (Policy No. 3440, 3445)
 
Chief Operations Officer Job Description (7/2017)
FINDINGS OF FACT:
1.
 
Dr. Colon-Rivas admits that in or about January 2018, he asked the employee to submit his receipt for a
 purchase of Dunkin Donuts ($30.17) for reimbursement with the employee’ own
request for reimbursement. He admitted that the employee provided him with cash ($30.17) after receiving the reimbursement. 2.
 
Although it made the employee uncomfortable, the employee felt compelled to submit Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ reimbursement as their own since the employee’s boss
- Dr. Colon-Rivas - had asked the employee to do so. 3.
 
Dr. Colon-Rivas admits that he submitted a request for three (3) days of vacation time in October 2018, which was approved by Dr. Vázquez Matos. Dr. Colon-Rivas directed the employee to enter the time off as sick time.
 
 
PAGE 3 4.
 
Although uncomfortable with Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ directive, the employee entered the time off as
directed. 5.
 
The investigator finds credible the
employee’s report that in January 2019, Dr. Colon
-Rivas requested vacation time (to be taken in April 2019), and after the request was approved, he again directed the employee to enter the time off as sick time. In addition, the investigator finds that after Dr. Vázquez Matos issued a reminder notice to administration employees about the need to secure approval if making changes to time off requests after an initial approval, Dr. Colon-Rivas confronted the employee and asked whether the employee had reported him. 6.
 
The investigator finds that Dr. Colon-Rivas did tell the employee that Dr. Torres-Rodriguez and Dr. Vázquez Matos were angry with the employee for mistakes the employee, although both Dr. Torres-Rodriguez and Dr. Vázquez Matos deny being upset or angry with the employee about any alleged mistake. 7.
 
On or about May 30, 2018, Dr. Colon-Rivas directed the employee to purchase a projector from Office Depot, which the employee did. On June 25, 2018, when the employee contacted Office
Depot to inquire about the status of the projector’s delivery, the employee was informed
that the projector had been delivered on June 4, 2018. On June 26, 2018, the projector was found in Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ office. The projector was never tagged, imaged or otherwise put in use in
the District, and was located in Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ office (unopened) on February 20, 2019.
It remains unclear why the projector remained in Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ office for eight (8) months.
 8.
 
On May 15, 2018, Dr. Colon-Rivas ordered technology and equipment from Apple totaling $7,578.00. The items ordered were: 2 MacBook Pros
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 (totaling $5,016.00); 1 iMac
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 ($1,368.00); 2 AirPods
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 ($318.00); and 2 iPad Minis
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 (totaling $876.00). 9.
 
Dr. Colon-Rivas did not deliver the technology/equipment to those he had indicated they were  purchased for (i.e., Central Registration at Hartford High, Transportation, and/or Security). 10.
 
All of the items purchased from Apple on May 15, 2018 were eventually located throughout the course of the investigation. However, many of the items were in Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ personal
 possession (outside the Hartford Public Schools) and/or in the hands/homes of third parties. 11.
 
On February 20, 2019, after first meeting with the investigator and James Canon (Executive Director of Internal Investigations & Security), Dr. Colon-Rivas accompanied Mr. Canon to Dr. Colon-
Rivas’ office, where Dr. Colon
-Rivas had informed the investigator that the items  purchased on May 15, 2018 were located. In his office, Dr. Colon-Rivas produced the following:
 
the Epson projector ordered from Office Depot (unopened);
 
one (1) set of AirPods (unopened);
 
one (1) iPad mini (unopened);
 
one (1) MacBook Air 
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 (unopened). Dr. Colon-Rivas also pointed to a laptop on his desk (MacBook Air), and the iMac desktop as additional equipment.
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 Serial Nos. C02WM2BMHTD7 and C02WN0DMHTD7.
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 Serial No. C02WG2CUJ1G5.
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 Serial Nos. GFDWPG2MH8TT and GFHWN6HPH8TT.
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 Serial Nos. F9GVL4QNGHKJ and F9GVL6GYGHKJ.
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 Serial No. C02SG4NZGFWM (delivered by Apple on 12/2/16).
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