3 ferry ticket sellers charged in theft

Tuesday, May 9, 2006

3 ferry ticket sellers charged in theft
Workers are fired after investigation

Three state ferry ticket sellers caught pocketing passengers' fares -- including two who allegedly covered the surveillance cameras in their booths to hide what they were doing -- were charged Monday with third-degree theft.

Dana R. Clark, 33, of Seattle; Jesse J. Eaton, 41, of Federal Way; and Richele M. Gregory, 40, of Seattle are accused of stealing more than $1,800 between them during about two months in 2004.

State Patrol investigators alleged that each of them stole cash dozens of times while taking money from ferry riders at Colman Dock.

The charge is a gross misdemeanor, which can mean up to a year in jail.

King County prosecutors said the investigation took almost two years because it involved reviewing a large amount of surveillance footage and documents.

A problem with ticket sales at Colman Dock came to light when two different passengers came forward with handwritten ticket receipts that seemed suspicious.

Washington State Ferries officials determined both were written on outdated forms and began an investigation, installing surveillance cameras in all four ticket booths at the dock.

Authorities monitored all 25 ticket sellers for one work shift and found that Clark, Eaton and Gregory all ended up with discrepancies of more than $100, according to court documents.

Investigators then carefully watched the three, concluding each had been accepting passengers' money without recording the transactions and that Clark and Gregory had taped paper towels over the surveillance cameras in their booths.

All three workers were fired.

Washington State Ferries is now converting to an electronic fare system that officials hope will not only bring convenience, but also will help minimize the risk of employee theft.

Passengers will be able to buy their tickets from kiosks and on the Internet, and sensors at the booths will flag situations in which a car drives through and no fare is paid, said ferry system Executive Director Mike Anderson.

"We take the public trust very seriously," Anderson said. "Any amount of theft is unacceptable."

The Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific, which represented the three workers in appealing their termination, has alleged that the three were targeted because they are black. Officials there could not be reached late Monday.

Ferry officials said they were fired because of evidence that they took money, not because of their race.

P-I reporter Tracy Johnson can be reached at 206-467-5942 or tracyjohnson@seattlepi.com.

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