Modesto reduces duties of IT official in wake to city investigations

Modesto has reduced the duties of its top information technology official after two city investigations substantiated allegations that he had disrespected two female staff members over the summer.

Chief Information Officer John Dickey will no longer manage the Information Technology Department but instead focus on high-priority projects.

Dickey actually is a contractor with Modesto-based Datapath. The city contracted with the company at an annual cost of $210,936 for Dickey's services. He had been Modesto’s chief information officer since March 2015.

But the City Council on Tuesday approved a new one-year contract that calls for Modesto to pay Datapath as much as $75,000 for Dickey’s services as a consultant on high-priority projects. The contract can be renewed for one year and replaces the previous one. The IT department’s two managers will oversee the department’s day-to-day operations on an interim basis.

Two city investigations substantiated allegations that Dickey had interrupted one female staffer as she spoke and told her in a raised voice as he pointed at her, “look, honey,” and trying to slap the wrist of the other female staffer on one occasion and poking her in the arm on another. The incidents occurred over the summer and during meetings with Dickey and other IT staff.

Dickey admitted saying, “look, honey” but said it was a slip of the tongue and not said in anger. He has strongly denied the other allegations.

This story was originally published May 29, 2017 at 1:17 PM with the headline "Modesto reduces duties of IT official in wake to city investigations."