A top Rhode Island official announced his resignation Thursday, closing part of an investigation into allegations of misconduct, including racially and ethnically charged remarks and requests for special treatment, on a business trip to Philadelphia earlier this year.
The investigation focused on David Patten’s visit to inspect a state contractor, Scout Ltd., on March 10. Patten served as the state’s director of capital asset management and maintenance in the Department of Administration.
After the trip, Scout officials wrote an email alleging what they described as strange and offensive behavior from Patten.
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On Thursday, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee for Patten’s resignation.
An aide to McKee pointed to a human resources investigation that he said highlighted Patten’s “grossly inappropriate behavior, which is disruptive, completely unacceptable, and does not represent the values of Rhode Island or the integrity of our state workers.”
Patten, through his attorney Michael Lynch, announced his decision to step down Thursday, effective June 30.
Lynch said in a statement that his client’s behavior was “the result of a health issue called an acute stress event – culminating from various events over the past 3 years in which he was treated and cleared to return to work.”
“While a simple apology is not enough, Mr. Patten apologizes to the citizens of Rhode Island,” Lynch added. “He also apologizes to the many individuals in Philadelphia who he met in March and, unfortunately, were recipients of the comments that resulted from Mr. Patten’s suffering under this extreme stress.”
Patten’s alleged violations were detailed in the Scout email released in response to appeals from The Providence Journal and WPRI-TV.
When speaking to a doctor who helped the poor, Patten allegedly asked, “When you go to the bars at night, you have to kill the girls.” The doctor said he was happily married. When Patten pressed him on his heritage, the doctor said he was Jewish, which apparently prompted Patten to say “mazel tov” and that he knew Jews in Brooklyn, according to the email.
During a visit to a shoe store, Patten was offered sneakers. After receiving the pair, he allegedly said, “Was this made in China? I hope not, because I hate China so much,” and then turned his attention to a female Asian staff member, saying, “No offense, huh.”
The e-mail said Patten pressed other businesses to let him take items for himself.
Rhode Island Department of Administration official David Patten has announced his resignation amid allegations of workplace misconduct. The announcement came just one day after Democratic Gov. Dan McKee (pictured) with Patten stepping down. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
“Patten on nearly every visit insisted on taking something from the tenant home with him, whether it was vegan cheese, hand blown glass or a pair of sneakers,” the email read.
Patten has been on paid leave since three days after the trip. As part of his resignation, the state will continue to pay for part of his health coverage through Sept. 30.
McKee addressed the incident and Patten’s resignation to reporters on Friday.
“We expect more from our state employees than the behavior Mr. Patten is now apologizing for in Philadelphia,” McKee said. “People who act that way, I don’t expect them to be employed in the state of Rhode Island.”
McKee said his hands were tied earlier in the process when the incident was being reviewed by human resources, adding that “the investigation was as thorough and expeditious as possible.”
McKee said the situation began during a March 10 trip to Philadelphia when a report about Patten’s behavior was sent to human resources, prompting the initial investigation.
Two days later, the state received an email from Scout calling it “strange, offensive” behavior that was “blatantly sexist, racist and unprofessional.”
On March 14, Patten’s access to state computer systems and cell phones was locked.
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“I personally called Scout Management to apologize for the behavior that was reported,” McKee said, adding that he also offered to speak with whoever Scout asked him to call as a governor to also provide apology
In April, McKee said his legal office referred the matter to state police. The investigation is ongoing, he said.
On May 30, Patten’s doctor cleared him to return to work. Instead, he was placed on paid administrative leave to allow a human resources investigation to continue, according to the governor.
McKee called for Patten’s resignation on Thursday. Patten announced his resignation and the human resources investigation was suspended.
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Patten earns more than $174,000 annually.
