US Army probes abuse case at day-care center

WASHINGTON - The US Army has launched an investigation into the hiring processes of its child care system after an abuse case was reported at a day-care center, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.

US Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is "deeply disappointed and angry" at the hiring lapses over an alleged abuse case at a day-care center used by military and Pentagon employees, Pentagon spokesman George Little said on Wednesday.

Little said he expects the investigation to move beyond child development centers and cover youth activities programs and the department's Education Activity facilities on bases and installations around the world.

Two workers at the day-care center at the base known as Fort Myer were arrested Sept 26 for assaulting children under their care. An investigation revealed that other workers had derogatory information in their background that called into question their suitability for working with children, US officials said.

Panetta learned of the problems at the facility on Tuesday, and immediately ordered the other services to examine their hiring procedures.

In addition, Little said, the secretary is also looking into why it took three months for news about the Fort Myer situation to reach him.

"It's something we're looking into, and clearly this information didn't get reported up the chain of command as quickly as we think it should have."

Federal court records showed that workers at the day-care center at Fort Myer were recorded by surveillance cameras dragging, pinching, kneeing and taunting toddlers, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

A personnel review at Fort Myer was started in September after a parent complained about an allegedly abusive caregiver. Evidence showed that staffers had been hired despite allegations of offenses that ranged from drug use to assault, which should have disqualified them from child care jobs.