12 Baltimore Employees Accused Of Theft

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A dozen employees of Baltimore's Department of Transportation are being accused of stealing nearly $60,000 in scrap metal and may be fired.

In a report released Friday, Inspector General David N. McClintock wrote that the employees took heavy-gauge cable from the city and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. They allegedly sold the cable for scrap "on city time with city vehicles." The city's inspector general has recommended the employees be fired.

The names of the individuals have not been released. In addition to the 12 employees, three supervisors have been suspended for up to 28 days without pay.

In response, the director of the Department of Transportation pledged to pay for an extra investigator in the inspector general's office who will focus exclusively on his agency.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)