Fifteen state workers in social services and labor relations agencies are suspected of lying about their finances to illegally collect storm food relief for themselves and now face disciplinary action in which they could lose their jobs, the governor said Wednesday.
An incredulous Gov. Dannel P. Malloy issued a scathing statement Wednesday in which he repeated his vow to seek the firings, and possible criminal prosecution, of state employees found to have illegally collected  food stamps earmarked for low-income victims of Tropical Storm Irene.
He also issued a warning to state workers who sit idly by when they suspect or see wrongdoing by co-workers.
Malloy said the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) initial review of the first batch of aid applications — out of a possible 800 submitted by state workers — uncovered 15 submitted by employees of DSS and the state Office of Labor Relations that contained false information.
He said the 15 have been referred to the commissioners of their respective agencies for administrative hearings as established by law and labor contracts. Those actions, Malloy has said, could lead to those workers losing their jobs.
“Based on my administration’s investigation, it appears clear that the abuses of public trust involved go beyond simply lying about income,” the governor said in a statement. “In some instances, people lied about assets under their control or even listed a deceased relative as living in the household.  Given the information known to us, these were not oversights or honest mistakes. This was outright fraud, and it will not stand. ‘’
He added that the state will no longer abide employees who look the other way when they encounter wrongdoing on the part of fellow state workers.
“I want to be very clear about something — if anyone in state government is aware of any fraud or abuse in any state agency, I want to know about it. Anyone with information should come forward so we can investigate it, and they should do so knowing that there will be no retribution whatsoever.Â
“I know that culture once existed in state government,” he said. “It doesn’t anymore.”
