Office of Inspector General
Investigative Report OIG 21-117
March 9, 2022
Ron DeSantis
Governor
Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD
State Surgeon General
Michael J. Bennett, CIA, CGAP, CIG
Inspector General
Accredited since 2011 by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.
IR OIG 21-117 Page 1 of 27
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORT
Case Number:
OIG 21-117
Date of Complaint:
July 16, 2020
Subjects:
Courtney Coppola, former Chief of Staff, Florida Department of Health
Shamarial Roberson, DrPH, former Deputy Secretary for Health, Florida Department of Health Carina Blackmore, DVM, PhD, Director of Medical and Health Services, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Florida Department of Health Patrick “Scott” Pritchard, OPS Biological Administrator III, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, Division of Disease Control and Health Protection, Florida Department of Health
Complainant:
Whistle-blower
Complaint:
Violations of Laws, Rules and/or Agency Policy, including: Code of Conduct, Conduct Unbecoming, Misconduct, and Falsification of Records
Period Reviewed:
March 16, 2020 through May 26, 2020
____________________________________________________________________________
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ALLEGATIONS and CONCLUSIONS
On January 25, 2021, the Executive Office of the Governor, Office of the Chief Inspector General (CIG), received a complaint, dated July 16, 2020, from the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). On the same day, the CIG referred the complaint to the Department of Health (Department, DOH), Office of Inspector General (OIG). In the original written complaint to FCHR, the complainant alleged retaliation through termination for opposing directions by DOH managers to falsify COVID-19
data on the DOH COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard (dashboard) to support reopening efforts throughout Florida when data indicated it was unsafe to do so, thus putting Florida’s citizens at harm due to the dangers
1
These dates will be referred to as the “period under review” herein.
2
A disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first identified in 2019, thus the designation COVID-19.
IR OIG 21-117 Page 2 of 27
posed by the spread of COVID-19. The complainant identified the following DOH managers as subjects of the allegations: Courtney Coppola, Dr. Shamarial Roberson; Dr. Carina Blackmore; and Scott Pritchard.
(Exhibit 1)
Based solely on the nature of the complainant’s allegations as presented, the OIG notified the complainant on May 28, 2021, of the approval of whistle-blower status, in accordance with sections 112.3187 – 112.31895, Florida Statutes (F.S.), and initiated a whistle-blower investigation.
If found to be true, the subjects may have violated one or more of the directives listed in the GOVERNING DIRECTIVES and DEFINITIONS
section of this report.
Following a review of the original complaint documentation, subsequent documentation received, and correspondence with the complainant, the specific allegations investigated, and conclusions reached, are listed below:
Allegation 1: Dr. Roberson directed the complainant and other DOH staff to falsify COVID-19 positivity rates. Unsubstantiated.
Based upon an analysis of the available evidence, there is insufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the alleged conduct, as described by the complainant, occurred.
Allegation 2: Ms. Coppola pressured the complainant to falsify COVID-19 positivity rates as directed by Dr. Roberson. Unsubstantiated.
Based upon an analysis of the available evidence, there is insufficient evidence to clearly prove or disprove the alleged conduct, as described by the complainant, occurred.
Allegation 3: At the direction of Dr. Roberson and Dr. Blackmore, the calculation of new case positivity was misrepresented on the DOH COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard. Unfounded.
Based upon an analysis of the available evidence, the alleged conduct, as described by the complainant, did not occur.
Allegation 4: Dr. Roberson, Dr. Blackmore, and Mr. Pritchard directed the complainant to restrict access to underlying data that supported what appeared on the COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard. Exonerated.
Based upon an analysis of the available evidence, the alleged conduct, as described by the complainant, occurred but was not found to be a violation of any governing directive. Details of the investigation and findings can be found in the INVESTIGATIVE DETAILS section of this report.
3
The complainant identified additional allegations and subjects in their Florida Commission on Human Relations written complaint. However, all other allegations, beyond those listed in this investigative report, were not within the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Health (DOH), Office of Inspector General (OIG) and are not addressed by this report.
4
The whistle-blower complainant will be referred to as “complainant” herein.
5
In accordance with 112.3188, Florida Statutes, granting of Whistle-blower status affords the complainant protection from their name or identity being disclosed throughout the investigation and investigative report, unless specifically exempted in statute or in cases where the disclosure is necessary to the investigation.
6
See page 13.