Target 12 “Beat the Clock” update

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - The school foreman implicated in a hidden camera investigation into time clock fraud has been suspended without pay, says the Cranston Superintendent of Schools, and they are moving to fire him.

Custodial foreman Neal Emmett is seen in the video taking apart a time clock in the Western Hills Middle School, changing the time and punching several time cards.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, a guest on this week’s Newsmakers, calls the video in the Target 12 Investigation "completely outrageous."

He says while the school department is handling the discipline, Fung has ordered his police department to pursue criminal charges.

"I'm going to urge the maximum punishment for Mr. Emmett and all those others that are involved," Fung said.

In the investigation dubbed "Beat the Clock," Emmett can be seen changing the time from roughly 8:35 to 9, punching a single time card, then advancing the time to 11 and punching four more.

"From what I saw on the video, it didn't appear as a one-time incident," Fung said. "It appeared as they knew what they were doing."

Target 12 attempted to question Emmett about the tape.

 

Emmett: I've got no comment.

White: It looks like you're changing the time clock there, why are you doing that?

Emmett: I don't know. I’ve got no comment.

White: You don't know why you're changing the time clock?

Emmett: I've got no comment.

 

The tape was sent to Target 12 anonymously. School officials believe it was taken by a disgruntled co-worker.

Now, after careful review of the tape, school officials say they now have a better idea as to when the video may have been taken.

Comparing the hidden camera video to the video of the custodial office at the school shot by Eyewitness News cameras, a refrigerator is no longer there and the walls are painted a different color.

Superintendent Peter Nero says the room was changed just before January 1st, 2009.

Considering Target 12 discovered the clock was still unlocked just last week, it raises more questions as to how long the alleged time clock fraud has been going on.

As far as the source of the video and the identities of the other workers who may be implicated by Mr. Emmett's actions, school officials say both their investigation and the police department's probe are on-going.