[August 18, 2011] Possible computer hacking at TPS probed Tweet Aug 18, 2011 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tulsa police are investigating a possible violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act after three Tulsa Public Schools administrative employees reportedly disclosed that they had accessed the personal email account of a secretary whose termination was being sought. Gary Rudick, chief of the district's Campus Police Department, reported the possible violation to Tulsa police July 22 after concerns arose during preparation for a due-process hearing for Cheryl Murphy, who had been suspended from her duties as secretary to Athletic Director Stephanie Spring. During a school district attorney's interview of Spring and two of Murphy's co-workers, Jon Wheeler and Patricia "Tush" Pruitt, they "conveyed information" to the attorney "that they had possibly gained access into the personal e-mail account of Cheryl Murphy using a password they had located within Ms. Murphy's vacated office," Rudick wrote. He added that the attorney, John Priddy, immediately ended the interview "and instructed Dr. Spring to turn her copied documents to a higher authority within TPS and to not alter or destroy them." In requesting a Tulsa police investigation, Rudick notified the department that Tulsa Public Schools had frozen the computer accounts of the three employees and that his officers had retrieved their computers, as well as copies of the emails in question. No charges have been filed, and no internal disciplinary action has been taken against Spring, Wheeler or Pruitt. As of Wednesday, Tulsa Police Officer Jason Willingham said his department's investigation is ongoing, adding, "There is not a whole lot more to say at this point." Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Keith Ballard said: "I am aware of the allegations. I have conducted an investigation. We will see how the other investigation plays out. I will take appropriate action when I deem it necessary." Murphy, who learned about the situation from Tulsa police, told officers she did not give anyone authorization to access her email account and stated that even her husband didn't have the password to it. Her attorney, Richard O'Carroll, said he took his client's story to a local media outlet this week because Murphy has evidence of dangers to students' health and safety and of misappropriation of school monies but does not trust school leaders to use the information properly. "My client is a whistleblower," O'Carroll said. "Why do you think they were hacking her email? They knew what was coming. I have notebooks, and I've got invoices. We are here because there is no other avenue left to report this." In a letter provided by O'Carroll, Ballard notified Murphy last week of his decision to withdraw his recommendation for her dismissal and of her reassignment to director's secretary in the district's Plant Operations Department. Ballard told Murphy to report to work there at 8 a.m. Monday, but she didn't. In an Aug. 10 response, O'Carroll wrote to Priddy, the school district's attorney, that Murphy considered the move an "apparent demotion." He gave Priddy a deadline of noon the next day to settle the matter. He also complained that none of the employees under investigation had been suspended. "Thus, Ms. Murphy rightfully believes that Dr. Ballard is allowing the culture which created Ms. Murphy's hostile work environment to continue, he is not acting in good faith and will only act against these malfeasants when forced to by outsiders, if then," O'Carroll wrote. "This notion is furthered by Ms. Murphy's apparent demotion to maintenance when she is the survivor of numerous torts, sexual harassment and retaliation for whistle blowing." Asked by the Tulsa World what form of settlement Murphy was seeking, O'Carroll said: "She wants the Education Service Center. It's the bigs for secretaries. Only the best get to go down there. ... The Education Service Center is a long way from the bus barn." He added: "This is not about dollars. There has never been a discussion of a single dollar." Andrea Eger 918-581-8470 [email protected] To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2011, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]