Last year, Ms. Pat Frank, Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Courts, launched an investigation in the Traffic Department, in reference to violations. According to documents, on October 28, 2010, Ms. Tanisha Benton, 41,  approached Luis Salas-Farfan, 30, about citations given to another co-worker, Ms. Cedrina Ervin, 22, being handled off the record.

On December 9, 2010, Tampa Police officers visited Ms. Ervin in reference to citations and about her boyfriend. Her boyfriend had been involved in a police chase while driving Ms. Ervin’s vehicle, documents show.

After the visit by police, management reviewed the records and discovered the other activity.

Ms. Benton and Salas-Farfan, resigned on February 2, 2011. Ms. Ervin resigned on February 3, 2011.

The investigation also resulted in the unpaid suspension of eight other employees. Suspended on April 16th were: Ms. Ada Delgado, 44; Ms. Gisela Bakke, 34; Ms. Mayte Delgado, 41; Ms. Irmarie Cordero Quinones, 40; Ms. Laura Trader, 53; Ms. Maylen Almira, 28; Ms. Rita Mooney, 50; and Ms. Sonia Lopez, 30.

On April 18th, Ms. Frank contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department to launch a criminal investigation as well.