LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In a 211-page report detailing its findings, the Louisville Metro Council released details of the Transit Authority of River City (TARC) investigation it sponsored. The report by David Beyer of Pence & Whetzel, PLLC expanded on sexual harassment and assault allegations leveled against former TARC Executive Director Ferdinand Risco by female employees. The report claims Risco's hiring could have been avoided in the first place, had there been a background check prior.

There are newly-released exhibits, obtained by Spectrum News 1, which show text messages between women and employees and Risco in which he appears to solicit sex. There are also messages via email, from employees to Mayor Greg Fischer's office. At least a dozen people implored him to replace Risco. It didn't happen. Risco resigned from TARC last year.

The Greater Louisville Central Labor Council's (GLCLC) Tim Morris told Spectrum News 1, "it clearly shows there was no due diligence done in the hiring of Ferdinand Risco in this role." 

Morris went on to say he hopes TARC and the city will make some changes in hiring policy for the future, and that "TARC as an agency will have a clearer vision going forward, so that workers can have some sense of security and safety and know that they will be okay when going to work."

In the report, Beyer writes that Fischer said in an interview, "the Mayor's office had no involvement in conducting any due diligence at the time Risco was first hired by TARC as Assistant Executive Director. He reiterated he relied on [Barry] Barker's judgement in the hiring of Risco. Fischer noted that Risco was brought in to be groomed as the next Executive Director when Barker retired."

Spectrum News 1 reached out to Fischer's office but did not immediately hear back. 

"Hopefully after this report, those things will change so that our community can have a better sense of what's going on when they get on that TARC bus to go from one end of the city to another," Morris said. Furthermore, he wants there to be more voices included in the hiring process. 

Additionally, the report details testimony from witnesses claiming to have been contacted by former colleagues of Risco. Risco previously worked in Atlanta for public transportation. Employees allegedly warned TARC officials against hiring Risco. 

Beyer will speak in a Metro Council meeting in a couple of weeks, according to Council President David James. 

"The safeguards that should have been in place were not in place to protect the employees of TARC, and you know we really need to find out from the administration what their plans are to make sure that nothing like this happens again," James said. 

Spectrum News 1 reached out to Risco's attorney for a comment and will update this story when a response is received.