
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 7, 1993                   TAG: 9305070195
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VA SEX HARASSMENT PROBE TO START SOON

An investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in Roanoke is expected to begin within a week, a VA spokeswoman said Thursday.

Lisa Respess said the VA's Equal Employment Opportunity office has assigned an investigator to examine a complaint filed by a regional office employee against Director Sam Tiano.

The investigator has 45 days to complete the investigation, Respess said.

Though the employee who filed the complaint has declined to comment on it, one of her co-workers told the Roanoke Times & World-News last week that the harassing involved "very crude" remarks made by Tiano.

The complaint initially was filed with the Veterans Benefits Office in Baltimore. After an investigator reviewed the complaint - which included interviews with 20 regional office employees - the complaint was referred to the VA's EEO office in Washington.

Tiano, who was placed on personal leave at his request, has not been available for comment. A VA spokesman said last week that he had no idea of Tiano's whereabouts and did not know whether Tiano had sought legal counsel.

by CNB