A top Minnesota Corrections Department administrator who abruptly resigned Friday morning is facing an investigation by the agency after complaints about unspecified conduct.
The leadership shake-up prompted state Rep. Marion O'Neill, R-Maple Lake, to file a formal request for information regarding Deputy Commissioner Sarah Walker's time cards, calendar entries and electronic correspondence since her appointment in January.
The data request also asked for any open investigations concerning Walker, who resigned roughly six months after Commissioner Paul Schnell tapped her to lead the agency's community services division.
O'Neill pursued payroll data following concerns about Walker's job performance.
"How much was she actually doing DOC work for the past few weeks while she was still being paid?" said O'Neill, the minority lead on the House corrections subcommittee. "We're just doing our due diligence to get to the bottom of it."
In Walker's resignation letter, the former lobbyist on criminal justice issues indicated a desire to return to her advocacy work.
"In my short time as Deputy Commissioner, I have become convinced that my voice and skills are best suited for pushing for widespread reform from the outside," Walker wrote. "There are unique opportunities at the local and national level to advance significant reforms and reduce racial disparities and I feel compelled to contribute to those efforts without encumbrance."
A DOC spokeswoman said the department has received complaints about Walker, but "the investigation has not been completed." She declined to discuss the nature of those complaints.
