Senior officials at the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) have been found to shield employees who disrupted bus service through a "romantic interaction," abandoned a running bus, and violated workplace rules. An investigation by the Detroit Office of Inspector General uncovered serious employee misconduct and lapses in disciplinary accountability.
The probe began after an anonymous complaint alleged that Senior Transportation Service Inspector Andre Reece and bus driver Dayna Ruff engaged in "inappropriate intimate behavior," falsely reported mechanical problems, and left a bus running and unattended, causing major service delays. Investigators substantiated the allegations, stating that the "romantic interaction" resulted in a 115-minute disruption of services and a waste of city resources on May 6.
Despite classifying the conduct as a Class IV offense, which is the most serious category under DDOT's disciplinary system, Superintendent of Operations Howard Bragg III issued only five-day suspensions. The report found that Bragg failed to conduct a proper investigation before issuing discipline, despite having access to surveillance video that documented the misconduct.
The OIG also discovered that Assistant Director of Operations Andre Mallett allowed the lenient discipline to stand even after learning that additional video evidence substantiated the complaint. Furthermore, Reece and Ruff failed to disclose their romantic relationship, as required by a city executive order governing supervisor-subordinate relationships.
The investigation revealed broader systemic problems inside DDOT, concluding that "disciplinary practices employed by DDOT's Operations Management Team are not compliant or consistent with the disciplinary policies mandated by the 2008 DDOT Employee Handbook."
In a city like Detroit, where roughly one-third of residents do not have access to a car and rely heavily on DDOT buses to get to work, school, medical appointments, and childcare, service disruptions of more than an hour can have cascading consequences for riders who already face chronic delays.
The OIG recommended additional discipline for Reece and Ruff, punishment for Bragg and Mallett, and significant reforms to ensure future investigations are thorough, transparent, and consistent with written policy. The report concludes that DDOT should create a system of procedures to allow more oversight over the review and issuing of discipline to ensure that it is proportionate to the offense and that all policies are followed.
The probe began after an anonymous complaint alleged that Senior Transportation Service Inspector Andre Reece and bus driver Dayna Ruff engaged in "inappropriate intimate behavior," falsely reported mechanical problems, and left a bus running and unattended, causing major service delays. Investigators substantiated the allegations, stating that the "romantic interaction" resulted in a 115-minute disruption of services and a waste of city resources on May 6.
Despite classifying the conduct as a Class IV offense, which is the most serious category under DDOT's disciplinary system, Superintendent of Operations Howard Bragg III issued only five-day suspensions. The report found that Bragg failed to conduct a proper investigation before issuing discipline, despite having access to surveillance video that documented the misconduct.
The OIG also discovered that Assistant Director of Operations Andre Mallett allowed the lenient discipline to stand even after learning that additional video evidence substantiated the complaint. Furthermore, Reece and Ruff failed to disclose their romantic relationship, as required by a city executive order governing supervisor-subordinate relationships.
The investigation revealed broader systemic problems inside DDOT, concluding that "disciplinary practices employed by DDOT's Operations Management Team are not compliant or consistent with the disciplinary policies mandated by the 2008 DDOT Employee Handbook."
In a city like Detroit, where roughly one-third of residents do not have access to a car and rely heavily on DDOT buses to get to work, school, medical appointments, and childcare, service disruptions of more than an hour can have cascading consequences for riders who already face chronic delays.
The OIG recommended additional discipline for Reece and Ruff, punishment for Bragg and Mallett, and significant reforms to ensure future investigations are thorough, transparent, and consistent with written policy. The report concludes that DDOT should create a system of procedures to allow more oversight over the review and issuing of discipline to ensure that it is proportionate to the offense and that all policies are followed.
like a bus running unattended for 115 minutes is no joke, especially in detroit where people rely on buses so much. and the fact that they didn't even disclose their romantic relationship as required by the city order... major fail! 
it's not just about them though, it's about how this kinda stuff can set a bad precedent and undermine trust in the department. 
what really grinds my gears is that the investigation found systemic problems and they're still trying to sweep it under the rug. 
like, we need real change here, not just some token punishment. 
So, basically these senior officials at the Detroit Department of Transportation were doing some pretty shady stuff, like having a "romantic interaction" on the job and leaving a bus running unattended, which caused major delays for people who rely on those buses. And get this - they only got 5-day suspensions! 
That seems way too light to me, considering how long the disruptions lasted. It's like they were more worried about not rocking the boat than doing their jobs right.
It just seems like there's some major fishy business going on here and I hope they actually get the discipline they deserve. The whole thing smells like a cover-up to me... 
. Like, these senior officials are getting away with some serious nonsense? A 115-minute bus disruption because of a "romantic interaction" 
? It's not just about them, it's about the actual riders who rely on those buses to get around. I mean, can you imagine if your job was on the line because of a fling with your coworker? 
The OIG report makes some serious points about systemic problems and lack of oversight...it's clear someone needs to clean house at DDOT ASAP 
Can't believe what's going on at DDOT, people! It's crazy how some folks think they're above the law just 'cause they got a badge 
. I mean, a 5-day suspension for all that drama? Come on, that's basically nothing! And you know what really gets my goat? The fact that it was the Superintendents of Ops who let this slide in the first place 
. Like, what's going on with all these sweethearts getting away with this kinda stuff? The OIG report is like, "Duh, this is some next-level incompetence" 
. We need to get our buses running smoothly and efficiently, not just for the people who ride 'em but also for the city's reputation 
. More oversight, more accountability – it's time for DDOT to step up their game! 
apparently senior officials think they're above the law, gettin' away with all sorts of crazy stuff like abandonin' a bus and havin' a "romantic interaction" on the clock 
. like, how's that even a thing? shouldn't they be more focused on servin' the people who rely on DDOT buses to get around? 
and now there's talk of systemic problems and reforms, but it's gonna take a lot more than just a slap on the wrist for change to happen 
. And now they're saying DDOT needs reform? Yeah, about time 
. I just hope this doesn't set a bad precedent for how seriously officials are held accountable in the future