Police investigators looking into the alleged misuse of funds and resources by employees of New Mexico State University’s facilities department will report to President Michael Martin to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
The university police department is under Ben Woods, senior vice president for planning, physical resources and university relations. Woods also oversees the Office of Facilities and Services, which police are investigating.
Martin said “the people who came forward” with allegations reported them directly to him. Because of that, and to ensure the integrity of the investigation, the president said he decided to have police report to him instead of Woods. He said that decision has nothing to do with whether he trusts Woods, but he wanted “to protect people from the accusation that there was something improper.”
“We’re the stewards of the people’s investment,” Martin said. “Even if I have some skepticism about the accusations, any accusation is going to be taken seriously.”
Martin confirmed that “a couple” of employees have been placed on leave as a result of the allegations that employees were using university funds and resources for personal construction projects on their homes. He said no one has been fired and he doesn’t yet know whether the investigation will lead to terminations.
He declined to name the employees on leave.
Martin said investigators don’t yet know whether there was anything improper or the scope of the problem, if there was one, but said he believes they will know a more in a couple of weeks.
The investigation was first reported today by the Round Up, which said three employees were accused and suspended: Richard MacRorie, associate vice president of facilities for planning, physical resources and university relations; Paul Herrera, director of facilities maintenance for the department’s operations division; and John Salopek, construction supervisor for the department’s roofing and construction division.
MacRorie has been reinstated, the paper reported.
Martin said the student newspaper’s article was “about 45 percent” accurate, but didn’t elaborate. He also said he didn’t want to discuss specifics of the allegations or investigation.
University Police Chief Jaime Chavez said he can’t comment on the investigation or Martin’s decision to have police report to him, but said investigators would reveal “the full story” when they can.