Behind the controversy looming over the electronic eyes of the New Orleans crime cameras and the city's 311 information hotline is Anthony Jones, the city's interim technology director, and questions over his educational background.

WWL-TV

Interim technology director Anthony Jones

The Metropolitan Crime Commission’s chief, Rafael Goyeneche, has been investigating Jones’ educational credentials for almost a year following complaints he says his organization has gotten from other city employees.

“(They were) alleging Mr. Jones may have misrepresented his credentials in being hired and promoted within the city,” said Goyeneche.

Goyeneche says his organization filed an open records request and obtained two city applications filled out by Jones – one when he was hired in 2005 and another from when he was promoted to interim technology director in 2007 with a salary of $160,000 a year.

“He’s indicated in at least two different forms to have attended two different colleges and presented that he has different degrees from these universities,” said Goyeneche.

In one application he claims to have attended Tulane University and mentions he’s only six credits shy of graduating. In the application filled out two years later, there’s no mention of Tulane and instead he lists the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor’s degree in business management.

City spokesperson Ceeon Quiett said Jones expects to complete his degree from the University of Phoenix later this year.

City councilwoman Shelley Midura, who has been critical of the city’s technology department, and specifically two programs – the crime cameras and the 311 phone systems, says she’d just like an answer.

“We need to find out what the truth is,” she said. “The fact that we have had so many problems with 311 and such a hard time getting definitive and accurate information is reflective of the management and leadership of the department.”

The technology department is asking the city council to unfreeze more than $500,000 of tax dollars for 311, and that doesn’t include a request for an additional $620,000, money that Jones has said would make 311 a top notch system.

For the past three weeks, the city’s chief administrative officer, Brenda Hatfield, said she has been investigating Jones’ situation.

Quiett said Tuesday night that, ‘the information regarding education credentials is accurate.’

When asked by Eyewitness News if that included a mention of attending Tulane, there was no response. Eyewitness News also contacted Jones by cell phone for comment, but when the reporter identified himself, the call was ended.