State vital records’ chief fired

State officials have fired the head of the office that handles records on births, deaths, marriages and divorces, saying he displayed gross mismanagement, officials said Tuesday.

“Our internal review revealed gross mismanagement and a lack of professional integrity on the part of the office director, which resulted in his dismissal,” said a statement by Taka Wiley, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Human Resources.

Officials at DHR, which oversees the state Office of Vital Records, declined to identify specific issues that led to the dismissal of Richard Wheat. About two weeks ago, DHR Commissioner B.J. Walker asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate allegations that records had been mishandled. Walker did so acting on a whistle-blower’s tip, officials said.

The GBI completed its investigation and is closing the case, having found no evidence of criminal activity, said GBI spokesman John Bankhead Tuesday.

He said GBI was asked to investigate security concerns but found no evidence of security breaches or identity theft.

The GBI agents performed interviews and reviewed records, Bankhead said. The GBI did not investigate administrative matters that pertain to the proper handling of records, which would not rise to the level of potential criminality.

The Office of Vital Records maintains the state’s birth and death certificates. It also amends birth and death records and does new birth certificates for adoptions.