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Office of Communications Gwen Campbell Media, Community & Education Relations Tel. 318.673.5062 / Fax: 318.673.5087 gwen.campbell@shreveportla.gov | ||
The City of Shreveport SPAR employee arrested Saturday, December 12, 2009 in Southern Hills Park and charged with molestation of a juvenile, and other charges has been fired, effective today. | Eric Barber, was an unclassified, part-time instructor with SPAR assigned to Cockrell Park. Mr. Barber only worked as scheduled and his last day of work was Friday, December 11. The actions did not occur while Mr. Barber was engaged in his employment with SPAR. | Following Mayor Glover’s direct order today, a letter informing Mr. Barber of his immediate termination was delivered to him at the Caddo Corrections Center. | Mr. Barber was hired in May, 2008. As with all city employees, he was subject to a criminal background check, drug screen, reference check and other requirements as outlined in the City’s hiring procedures. | Today, Mayor Glover learned that Mr. Barber has a 1993 conviction for unlawful sales to minors and a 1996 felony theft conviction. According to the City’s Personnel Department, the felony conviction did not disqualify Mr. Barber from employment, since the conviction did not occur within five (5) years of the date of hire. | “I cannot contain my outrage about this for a number of reasons,” says Mayor Glover. “First, the fact that it happened, second that it happened in a city park, and third, that the perpetrator is an employee whose job involves daily interaction with children in city-sponsored activities. Our parks are safe and we will continue to assure that employees and volunteers that work in our programming remain above reproach.” | ### |
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