I-TEAM: More discipline tied to kids in city cars

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-TEAM has found another City of Cleveland official disciplined over the use of a take-home car.

Records show Cleveland Hopkins Airport Interim Assistant Commissioner Patrick Ruedisueli was given a one-day suspension.

That marks the latest fallout tied to kids in city cars.

The Ruedisueli discipline grew out of a photo of car seats in the back of a city vehicle assigned to him.

That came to light just after Assistant Safety Director Jakimah Dye crashed with kids in a city car. And, Safety Director Karrie Howard resigned after admitting to the I-TEAM that he had driven with a child in a city car.

The policy says kids are not allowed in city vehicles.

Records indicate Ruedisueli told investigators he had the car seats in the vehicle only for “emergency purposes” since he has two small children. And, he said he could be called at any time for an emergency. He also said he took out the car seats after being reminded of the policy.

However, his disciplinary letter says, “You are held to a high standard of performance and behavior that align with the City of Cleveland and Department of Port Control’s Code of Conduct, values and expectations.”

Meantime, we keep checking for the results of an overall review of the use of City take-home cars.

In February, we asked the mayor: “Who’s been watching to make sure that all City employees are following the rules with city cars, and that they even have insurance?”

On February 29, Mayor Justin Bibb said: “We had a briefing with our cabinet on this on Tuesday, and they are doing a thorough, comprehensive review to make sure every city employee is compliant and hold them accountable if they’re not.”

But, the city has not announced any findings or new action from that review, and we have not been given any indication when to expect anything.

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