How much did the Building Division know when they hired a former St. Louis City Firefighter who pled guilty to robbing a crash victim?
According to the St. Louis City Director of Personnel Sonya Jenkins-Gray, the Building Division became aware of the "situation concerning [Arnold] Britt," before moving forward with hiring him as a building inspector.
"And [the Building Division] decided that they wanted to give him a second chance and they hired him."
Director Sonya Jenkins-Gray says the Building Division spoke with Britt's former employer, the St. Louis City Fire Department, during the interview process.
"In the interview process, [the Building Division] did do a reference check with the Fire Department because in his application it said that he had worked there before."
According to Gray this is when the Building Division learned of the criminal case.
"It is my understanding that they did know of the situation that had occurred with Mr. Britt" and the Building Division moved forward with hiring him anyway.
Gray adds it is not abnormal for an appointing authority to want to give someone a second chance and it is up to them to determine what risk that would create.
She says it is up to also says the process of reviewing their procedures with background checks began months ago and they now do them when hiring for all positions.
KMOX has reached out to spokespeople for the Fire Department and the Department of Public Safety which oversees the Building Division for comment and is awaiting response.