Probation Commissioner Juanita Holmes moved last week to underscore policies aimed at controlling the flow of information amid criticism of her tenure stemming from a July 28 Council hearing and from within the agency, the Daily News has learned.
Holmes’ aide Antonio Pullano sent an email Friday to Probation employees reminding them of a policy they are not to speak with reporters, a copy of that document shows. A second written order went out midweek barring the use of thumb drives in the office, which can be used to make copies of agency documents.
Earlier last week, a sign appeared at the entrance to the cubicles of the Human Resources division at Probation headquarters on the 18th floor of 33 Beaver St. “Authorized personnel only,” the sign reads, a photo obtained by The News shows.
The memos come after The News revealed Thursday that Holmes sidelined her Chief Information Officer Razwan Mirza while at the same time hiring her niece, Demmi Slaughter, for a role in the department. The agency said she was hired as a “certified IT administrator” but an inboarding document obtained by The News shows her listed as “Assistant Commissioner of Information Technology.”
The News also obtained internal agency statistics which showed rearrests of probationers had spiked 19% during Holmes tenure. Holmes had twice claimed in the hearing that rearrests were down, then tried to blame her predecessor Ana Bermudez for supposedly manipulating statistics. The number of rearrests are key indicator for an agency that is supposed to be preventing probationers from reoffending.
The moves took place after The News sent detailed inquiries to Probation and the City Hall press office Aug. 11 about Mirza and Slaughter and the internal statistics showing the increase in rearrests.
The News also previously reported that the city Comptoller barred Probation from self-registering certain contracts after finding the agency sidestepped procurement rules in the taxpayer-funded purchase of Holmes’ $87,000 SUV.
Probation spokeswoman Regina Graham defended the media email, saying “This is a longtime city policy and has existed across several mayoral administrations and DOP Commissioners.”
“Across every single city agency, anyone must get approval and clearance by senior supervision and the Deputy Mayor for Communications to speak to members of the public or the press in your official capacity as a city employee,” she said in a statement.
“This longstanding policy does not exist to protect any commissioner or mayor — it exists to ensure that New Yorkers receive accurate, clear information from their city government.”
Rendy Desamours, a spokesman for the City Council, said, “The questionable data provided to the Council and staffing turmoil within the Department point to severe leadership challenges that are undermining its mission and the efforts of rank-and-file agency staff.
“These issues have real consequences for New Yorkers’ public safety and the stability of our communities. They cannot be swept under the rug – City Hall and DOP leadership must advance meaningful solutions that reduce high caseloads, restore confidence, and ensure clients are being effectively supported.”
The Council statement built upon a call last week by Council Member Sandy Nurse for an outside audit of Probation.
Graham said Holmes “would welcome any outside entity to conduct an agency audit,” adding that Probation was in an “antiquated state” prior to Holmes arrival.
“Since instituting critical changes, Commissioner Holmes has received positive feedback from dozens of staff members, who welcome these innovative shifts and her leadership,” she wrote.
Pullano’s email on the media said, “This is a reminder that DOP policy prevents speaking to or sharing information with the media without approval from the communication team and/or the commissioner,” the one-paragraph memo reads.
The thumb drive ban was issued two days earlier. “Effective immediately, the use of USB drives and other removable media devices is strictly prohibited on all DOP computers, laptops, tablets and networks,” the thumb drive edict stated.
“These devices present a high security risk and can expose and compromise systems data.”
The missive added, “All USB and removable media ports will be blocked to prevent unauthorized use.”
Graham explained that thumb drives “present (a) high security risk” and said “There is no acceptable reason to share confidential information,” though Graham did not specify what confidential information had been shared.
The “authorized personnel only” signs at Human Resources appeared first last week. Probation’s HR department has had significant turnover under Holmes, and questions have been raised about the hiring of friends and relatives to posts with the agency.
The department said that because “amongst the 23 floors in the building, three of the floors are occupied by DOP staff … it must be indicative that these DOP specific floors have signage noting for “Authorized Personnel Only.””
