A city official in Florida says that when she told her colleagues that the newly hired athletic director was a registered sex offender, her concerns were ignored — and she was demoted for it.
Aladia Franks, a 13-year assistant director of the parks and recreation department of Riviera Beach, Florida, filed a whistleblower lawsuit on Oct. 2 in Palm Beach County. She says that Abram Elam, a former NFL player, was hired as athletic director while she was out on medical leave, and that upon her return, she learned that he had not been subjected to a background check — and that, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, he is a registered sex offender.
She flagged the information to city officials in an email.
“Please be advised that I was informed that City contracted Athletic Director picture is on the FDLE website as a registered sexual offender,” she wrote on Aug. 2, 2023. She said that as president and compliance officer for a youth football and cheer program, known as the Riviera Beach Chargers, as well as administrator of the city’s after-school program and parks and recreation director, “I have a responsibility to report it to each of you.”
She said that she had previously requested background checks for all volunteers and staff who come into contact with youth and seniors to provide a recent background check, but there was no record of that for Elam.
“I am not sure how to proceed,” she wrote. “Please advise me how to proceed. Thanks so very much for your...
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