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Dallas Goes Public With Housing Probe, Actions Against Employees

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The City of Dallas says it has placed eight employees in the Housing and Community Services department on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into misuse of federal housing money.  A ninth city employee was referred to the grand jury in January. 

In a broadly-worded press release with limited details, the city said it took action following a 10-month investigation into the Project Reconnect/Offender Re-entry Program.   The city's website says the program assists non-violent offenders with housing, employment and other services as they transition from prison into the Dallas community.

The city says other law enforcement may join Dallas police in the probe, but the city is not providing information about the activities that resulted in the employees being removed from their jobs.

The city says files connected with the investigation have been secured and “access has been restricted to City offices, computers and related technology.”

Former KERA staffer Shelley Kofler was news director, managing editor and senior reporter. She is an award-winning reporter and television producer who previously served as the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.