I-TEAM: Police investigating Boys & Girls Club of Dayton after sudden departure of former CEO

DAYTON — Weeks after the sudden firing of a Boys & Girls Club of Dayton executive for “policy violations”, a News Center 7 I-Team investigation found police have an open an ongoing investigation involving the organization.

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Donors and supporters of the Boys & Girls Club of Dayton were notified in a letter sent just last week about the removal of former CEO Tara Marlow, according to the letter obtained by News Center 7′s I-Team. The letter stated Marlow’s employment termination was effective as of March 29.

“We were made aware of her violation of several significant Club policies and, after a thorough investigation, made the decision to terminate her employment,” Mica Goosby, Board Chair, Boys and Girls Club of Dayton Board of Directors said in the letter.

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“We are also taking this opportunity to focus on strengthening our financial review process and existing safety measures, including additional staff training, enhanced programming for youth, and building our capacity to broaden our reach within the community,” Goosby said in the letter.

Goosby also spoke with News Center 7′s John Bedell Thursday, adding Marlow’s employment termination was based on policy violations and the board was forced to act due to their fiduciary responsibility.

“Tara Marlow is no longer associated with our organization. The board identified policy violations and due to our fiduciary responsibility, the board acted quickly with the removal of CEO Tara Marlow,” she said.

Goosby added the investigation is a personnel matter but organization is cooperating with investigators. But said she cannot not release details into why Dayton police are investigating the organization.

“As you know, details regarding personnel matters must remain confidential. Any investigation is still pending and so therefore the board feels like at this time – the board basically had to take quick action to remove her based on the policy violations. So with an ongoing investigation, we are cooperating with authorities with that investigation, but we are unable to give out any specifics because it is a personnel matter,” Goosby said.

The Dayton Police Department confirmed to News Center 7 there is an open and active investigation involving the Boys and Girls Club of Dayton and that investigation has been going on for several weeks.

Police did not name Marlow as a specific subject of the investigation and criminal charges have not been filed against her.

While the letter to donors notes the organization is “strengthening our financial review process” it was not known if the investigation involved missing funds. The Boys & Girls Club of Dayton is an organization that accepts both public and private funds.

When asked about what the organization is doing to prevent policy violations that led to Marlow’s firing, Goosby said the organization is focusing on training and staff development.

“Like I said, we are just taking the opportunity to make sure we are taking care of fiduciary responsibilities and if something comes up, we take swift action and we make sure that that never happens again. Just like the statement says, we are taking this time to focus on training, development of our staff and making sure that we are going to expand our reach in the community,” Goosby said.

“So everything that we are doing internally as an organization is focused on moving forward. We have an awesome and amazing interim CEO from Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, her name is Crystal Allen, and she is helping us to make sure that we are moving the mission forward and expanding our reach in the Dayton community. So we’re excited about those opportunities. And that will always be our focus: our club kids, the mission and the community,” she added.

Bedell attempted to reach Marlow at her home, however there was no answer at her door and she has not been reached for comment.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

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