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County Asks For Bids To Replace Wackenhut On Metrorail Security

June 18, 2008, NBC 6

http://www.nbc6.net/news/16640661/detail.html

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By JEFF BURNSIDE

MIAMI -- Miami-Dade County said it is poised to make good on its promise to fire Wackenhut Security from its massive contract on Metrorail trains unless it repays taxpayers millions of dollars.

NBC6 has obtained internal county memos that confirm that Miami-Dade County is asking other security firms to submit bids to replace Wackenhut on Metrorail trains and other facilities. The county said

Wackenhut's only hope of not getting fired is if it returns up to $6 million in taxpayer dollars.

The Metrorail and Metromover systems are guarded by Wackenhut Security in a lucrative no-bid contract. The county said it is getting ready to replace Wackenhut, cutting short the existing contract unless Wackenhut makes amends.
 
"It's very troubling," said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

In May, Alvarez threatened to fire Wackenhut. On Tuesday, it was clear that was no idle threat.

"We are prepared to cancel all contracts with the Wackenhut corporation and demand that we get the money that's owed to us," Alvarez said.

The county said Wackenhut scheduled guards to work partial shifts while billing taxpayers for a full shift and sometimes billing taxpayers for a post that had no guards at all, NBC6's Jeff Burnside reported. The allegations were the same as those contained in an NBC6 investigation called "A Question Of Security."

The amount in question is up to $6 million. An independent audit claimed it was much more.

One problem is that any company that replaces Wackenhut might need to hire some of Wackenhut's guards because of the size of the contract.

In an internal memo, Wackenhut called that, "underhanded … tactics by third-party instigators."

A labor union urged county commissioners Tuesday to improve working conditions in any new contract.
Wackenhut had no response on Tuesday, Burnside reported. Previously, the company has disputed the allegations.