'DOT Dozzzer' back on the job

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Department of Transportation worker caught in a Target 12 Investigation spending hours on the clock sleeping, eating and reading novels over several weeks, is back on the job in the same position but now working overnights.

Transportation Director Michael Lewis said the behavior of Engineering Technician Kevin Coulombe was "unacceptable" and he was disciplined.

"We did a review and appropriate disciplinary action was taken, beyond that I can’t go further based on requirements of state statute,” Lewis said. “We are not shy about taking disciplinary action when appropriate."

Most recently, Coulombe was assigned to inspecting construction materials used in the Barrington River Bridge project, which was the poster child for overdue, over budget state projects. Lewis said he is now assigned in the same capacity but at the Pawtucket River Bridge project.

Lewis made his comments during a taping of Newsmakers. When asked whether or not he was satisfied with the level of discipline, he said he thinks cases like this will be used an example department wide.

“It’s an opportunity for us to reinforce with all department personnel what our expectations are and as public servants how we are viewed by the public," Lewis said. "Anytime we take disciplinary action it’s an example for everyone else in the department to say 'this is not how you want to be viewed as state employee,' and there’s a certain amount of peer pressure that will come to bear as well."

Lewis said in his three years as director, the department has terminated more than a dozen workers for unacceptable behavior.

twhite@wpri.com