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State officials reacted too slowly to the theft of a data backup tape, losing their best chance of recovering the tape that contained the names and Social Security numbers of more than 800,000 taxpayers.
That's the conclusion of a new report, issued Friday afternoon, by Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles.
According to the Plain Dealer:
Officials didn't immediately tell police the significance of the theft from an intern's car June 10 even though they knew sensitive personnel information was on the tape, according to a report issued by Charles on Friday.
"This strikes us as akin to waiting to put out the fire until you discover the cause of the flames," the report said.
The data debacle is expected to cost the state more than $2 million, mostly the cost of enrolling individuals in an identify theft protection program.
Charles recommended disciplinary action against state workers responsible for losing the tape, for failing to tell police the significance, for downplaying the seriousness to supervisors and for failing to insure that sensitive data was removed from the computer drive that was backed up on the tape.
The report also criticized state officials for ceding too much authority and decision-making to private contractors involved in a massive state computer project related to the theft. It also said "a complete breakdown in the reporting chain" led to delays in key officials becoming aware of the theft.
Gov. Ted Strickland wasn't told of it until four days after it was reported to police.
David White, who had served as manager of the Ohio Administrative Knowledge System resigned his post on Friday. Jared Ilovar, the state intern who left the backup device in his car, was fired.
"I appreciate the Inspector General's thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the theft of the state data device," Strickland said in a statement. "The state is taking every precaution to ensure that this type of incident is prevented from occurring again."