Park officer off the hook over porn on work computer

The Interior Department's Inspector General has issued a report that found no criminal violations by John A. Latschar, the superintendent of one of the agency's most popular facilities, Gettysburg National Military Park. But the report did not mention that Latschar's work computer contained more than 3,400 sexually explicit images on it.

An internal Aug. 7 memo from an investigator to acting Director of the National Park Service Daniel N. Wenk obtained by the Washington Post details the discovery of the images on the computer hard drive that was seized by investigators. "Latschar's inappropriate use of his government computer violates DoI policy," the memo said.

Wenk, through a spokesman, said the matter was a "personnel issue," and would not comment on whether disciplinary action was taken. Latschar declined interview requests. He remains in his $145,000-a-year job, the newspaper reported.

There was criticism of this park service incident report, too.

"It's disturbing, but the inspector general looks for criminal activity, not indecency," said Eric Uberman, whose family has owned a Gettysburg wax museum of Civil War figures since 1962. "The Park Service will not hold him accountable."

This is not the first time that federal officials have been caught using work computers to view pornography. An incident earlier this year at the National Science Foundation led to several reprimands and the suspension of six employees following an IG report. In one instance, a senior official spent up to 20 percent of his time looking at porn sites.

Is it time to pronounce a policy on this issue, or will feds eventually realize that this is a big no-no?

For more on this Park Service investigation:
- see this Washington Post article