In August, Sarasota Herald-Tribune investigative reporter Lee Williams’ phone rang. On the other end was a North Port City employee claiming city employees were cheating on exams required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA.
FEMA supplies assistance in the wake of disasters such as paying for overtime or damaged equipment. Public Works Department employees earn that compensation by taking courses on how FEMA works and pass the accompanying exams.
But, this employee claimed answers were given ahead of time. Williams got to digging and what he found confirmed his source’s claims. He told WGCU'sTopherForhecz about his investigation.