Call to fire 'beat the clock' foreman

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - The Superintendent of schools in Cranston has wrapped up his investigation into alleged time clock fraud and is asking the school committee to fire custodial foreman Neal Emmett.

In a closed door meeting earlier this week, Superintendent Peter Nero says his recommendation came from the hidden camera tape unearthed by Target 12 and other evidence he's uncovered.

"We know it was done a couple of times," Nero said. "On July 3rd, it was done the week previous to July 3rd and it was done another time months previous to that."

Nero would not elaborate on the other evidence.

The tape, which was sent to the Target 12 Investigators anonymously after a separate investigation into alleged time clock fraud aired, was recorded inside the custodial office at Cranston's Western Hills Middle School.

A voice off-camera states "I'm gonna bang these out."

School officials say it’s Emmett who enters the room, removes the shell of the time clock, advances the time from about 8:35 to 9 and stamps a time card. The video then shows Emmett advance the time clock to 11, and stamp four more time cards.

"The video was compelling in itself because the room was changed about December at the end of 2008," Nero said. "We don't know when that video was taken it could have been taken as early as last December, it could have been done a couple of years ago."

Potentially opening the door to years of abuse.

Nero said while his staff has not been able to identify whose time cards Emmett was apparently punching, he said the Cranston Police are continuing their probe.

"Their investigation will be much different then ours," Nero said. "Eventually this may reach a point where employees may be speaking under oath."

Still a mystery: who sent the Target 12 Investigators the hidden camera video, anonymously.

Nero said the lock to the time clock has been changed since the report aired.

The school committee has put the Emmett matter on the agenda for Monday's meeting. Nero said he expects the case to go to arbitration.

Calls into the union representing Emmett, the National Association of Government Employees, have not been returned.

Emmett has been on unpaid leave since July 17th.