USF professor on leave after he is captured taking a bike from campus

TAMPA -- A University of South Florida dean is being investigated after surveillance video captured him taking a red bike from the loading dock of the Johnnie B. Byrd, Sr., Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute.

Dr. Abdul Rao, senior associate vice president for research at USF College of Medicine, said he took the bike on Monday to help a "nearly homeless'' friend and intended no harm.

Video of the theft has been posted on YouTube.

Rao, who joined USF in 2006 ,draws a $269,280 salary plus four administrative stipends of $115,000.

He is on leave while university police and the administration review the matter.

"This issue for us," university spokesman Michael Hoad said, "is the error in judgment."

Rao said in an interview today that he allowed a man who does yardwork for him to take the bike so that he could go to the DMV to replace a lost Florida ID.

"Initially, I was reluctant," Rao said. "But he is trustworthy and he is an extremely hard working guy. He is just one of those guys who can't get off the poverty bubble."

Rao said he did nothing to conceal the fact that he was taking the bike. In fact, he said, he advocated for video surveillance on the dock last year and was aware he was being filmed.

On Wednesday, he said, he was in a meeting when campus police asked him to step out. They questioned him about the bicycle, which belonged to a graduate student. Rao said his friend had already returned the bike by then.

USF police Lt. Meg Ross confirmed the bike had been returned. She said no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.

Rao also released the following statement to his colleagues:

"I will be away from the Alzheimer’s Center for a time and Dr. Cliff Gooch and Mr. John Ekarius will assume responsibility for routine administrative matters.  I must, with deep regret, let you know that I made an unfortunate mistake and it is now necessary for the official channels to review the incident. 

"Earlier this week I gave a man who does odd jobs for me permission to use a bicycle that was parked at the center.  I acted out of compassion for this nearly homeless man; but I failed to consider that the bicycle belonged to someone on our Alzheimer’s team. The bicycle was reported stolen. It has, however, since then been returned to its owner.  USF police are investigating as is standard procedure.  It was a terrible lapse in judgment on my part; I have no excuse.  I can only say that my intention was never to bring harm, alarm, or disruption to anyone.

"Please know that I deeply regret this failure in judgment and the unfortunate attention it has generated.  My first duty is to the community of scholars that is USF and to the talented people working across USF Health.  If it is possible, I hope to return soon and resume my service to Dr. Klasko and you as we continue to move USF Health forward as a global leader and a respected community partner."

-- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer

Comments

[MnTampabay]

What a sad situation. An impulse of compassion and a lapse in judgment. One incident does not sum a whole person. I am glad nobody was taping some of my dumb moments.

[dillonmar]

Since when is compassion giving him SOMEONE ELSE'S bicycle? Give him $150 out of your six figure salary for a bike at Walmart...pick up the cab fare...or even drive him to DMV yourself.
Lapse in judgment? Really? The Orient Road facility is full of people who were just "borrowing" something until they got caught. My first grader would know better than to do it...or to call it a lapse in judgment. We should assume a PhD could come to the same conclusion on his own.

[Ric]

Why is USF employing people who make close to $700K a year, and don't have half a brain? If this is an honest mistake, then the guy is a complete moron and should be fired for blatant stupidity. Maybe he should be the one doing lawn service. And this guy does high-level research? I fear for the future of this nation.
I also want to know when the bike was returned: before or after the stolen property report?
What a complete idiot! I still cannot get over what an idiot this Rao man is. Shame, shame, shame. His parents obviously did not raise him properly.

[Beeper]

And please no one make mention that two black males were involved. please

[J Fla]

Why is he not in jail and fired from his position. Nothing worse than a rich, greedy thief. Stealing a students transportation what a low life scum. Lets not forget his partner in crime. He should not be homeless any longer a bed and three meals a day at orient road jail. Wait if you can steal a gorilla than why not a bike. Not a mistake this is a thief treat him as one.Tells you a lot about professors at USF ethics not. And yes they are african american so play the race card sense he is a professor the card is A of SPADES. I am certain he was beaten as a child and every one hated him.

[kathy]

He makes almost a million a year, he could not buy a hundred dollar bike. Why is he making so much money? give me a break. If I did that I would be in jail.

[J Fla]

Our tax dollars fund the research and I feel there is no position for a person that is a thief. Trust is a most important word and his actions show not to trust him. He did not know the bike belonged to a staff member of the alheimer's team, So if it did not belong to a team member it would be alright to steal the bike. What does governor Charlie Chris think of this so called professor. If he is not let go maybe canceling Federal Funding should be question for this study.

[angrytaxpayer]

It is really a shame that people working in our education system don't seem to know or care about honor and/or honesty. I agree with prior comments Dr. Rao shouldn't be part of the USF Faculty if he can't determine the difference between right and wrong. With his character in question, how can we trust the findings of his past research. Do we have to go back and see if he had a "lapse in judgement" during those efforts?

Shame on the leadership of USF if they can't find the backbone to dismiss Dr. Rao for cause.

[windowsugar]

hmmm there's way MORE to THIS story, I'm sure. First: I do NOT trust johnnie byrd. Second: I do NOT believe in alzheimer's or diabetes. Everyone in my family who wasn't murdered lived to ripe old age and so did everyone else I know.

[windowsugar]

This dementia/alzheimer's is a manmade disease and a MARKETING TOOL just like diabetes. Since WHEN does EVERYONE have diabetes and alzheimers??? For those of you who believe you or your loved ones suffer from this disease please do NOT trust this team of doctors or barely ANY of the ones in Tampa. Take charge of your own health.
This is the tip of the iceberg. Why does this guy need half a million a yaer to perform a public good? HOW is he friends with a 'near' homeless person? What would have been wrong with giving the guy bus-fare OR a ride????????

[windowsugar]

Yes, I know most people think you're crazy when you disavow these medical freaks/geniuses but try to think when alzheimer's and diabetes and breast cancer began to take over the world. It's just NOT possible.

[windowsugar]

wow all my comments gone. WOW. that was quick. huh.

[windowsugar]

You'll never get rid of all the thieves. At least THIS guy writes a good apology.

LMAO

[windowsugar]

I had to keep dividing my comment up. It was not as long as some already here. What I wanted to say is read the NY times pertaining to breast cancer GOING AWAY if left untreated. Some guy wanted to lop off fun parts and women paid.

[jmndos]

Wow, you don't just take something off the street...

Technically, he is guilty of theft....

[JamesW]

Hey Abdul Rao,
Why didnt you just have the guy go to the next planned Town Hall meeting and ask Mr. Obama for a bicycle. With the current wishes he has granted I am sure that somewhere there is someone who has a spare bicycle sitting around that he could use as long as he wants to free of charge, or until someone decices they wish to buy it.

[Peter]

I think a lot of you are missing the point. The bicycle was returned. He really was just borrowing the bike. Also, he doesn't make "almost a million a year". He makes shy of $400,000 a year. He couldn't just give the guy money he didn't earn. He knows a nearly homeless man because he does work for the man. This is just for "windowsugar". YOU ARE AN IDIOT. If anyone listens to you, let alone believes you, they are idiots as well. Just crawl back under your rock and keep your uneducated opinions to yourself.

[PrincessHaven]

I don't believe this guy for 1 minute! Trying to deny outright theft by pretending to do a good deed. He should be fired immediately.

And isn't stealing supposedly against the muslim beliefs? Oh yeah, killing innocent people is too, but that's never stopped them.

[North Carolina John]

First of all Peter, you had better do your math again, he makes over 729,000 a year. Second, if the bike did not belong to him it was THEFT, Period. Third, He could very well have given the man a ride if he could not GIVE him money for a cab. The prisons are just full of people that have "Just Borrowed" an item they got caught with, so I assume none of them are guilty either. Yes He did make a mistake, He is a highly paid PHD that should have known better. I suppose when someone "just borrows" your car without asking your permission That will be ok, Right!

[birdie]

Unbelievable that he could not see the wrong in what he was doing. Does he think everyone should just take anything they want and it is okay as long as they think they will return it some day? He is in a teaching position?? Unbelievable!

[Gumby]

The man is a thief. Please note the time of day on the video. I doubt that anyone is going to the DMV at 10:45 PM.
Fire the bum so Obama can give him a cushy job with the rest of the thieves. With that high salary I'm sure he will like not having to pay his taxes.

[GulfSider]

This guy needs to be charged with a crime and fired. Obviously he feels entitled to break the law at will!

[John B.]

This man clearly considers himself above the law. He is entitled to "borrow" anything he desires. He didn't try to conceal the theft because he never expected to be questioned. This is another example of the Dean and the President of the University allowing unethical behavior. The excuse is almost as foolish as the act but it seems we are expected to just play along. This behavior should trigger an in depth audit of the entire College as it is hard to believe this man's actions are isolated.

[notoz]

You are all missing the plight of the other victim. What about the owner of the blue bike?? They were obviously going to take that one first and then they put it back. The blue bike's owner has to live with the public humiliation of having a bike that isn't worth stealing!

[USFhiresidiots]

Did anyone notice that this is happening at 10:45 PM? Since when is the DMV open at that hour? This guy is obviously a terrible liar which makes me wonder how he was ever able to become successful in academia.

[darter22]

Windowsugar, was your baby crib painted with lead-based paint? Your posts make a very convincing case FOR Alzheimers.

[rjre2]

The time is actually 8:45P.M. for any of you not military types. If you watch the entire video it is also apparent that the stolen bike was transported away from the scene in the mini van. I also wonder why if he could drive this "friend" to and from the crime scene, why couldn't he give him a ride to the DMV?

[rjre2]

DMV is still closed at that time of day.

[palms]

I wonder what the Federal agencies will think when they find out the man overseeing millions in federal grants is consorting with a convicted felon and aiding and abetting a known criminal in the commission of a crime?

[concernedtaxpayer]

Bicycles

Efficient. Economical. Healthy. Ecological. Fashionable. And very popular at the University of South Florida.

USF is a bicycle friendly environment. Bike racks are placed all over campus for easy bicycle parking. Many students find bicycling an enjoyable and fast alternative to driving.

Bicycle racks are provided in each residence hall complex for bicycle security. The University Police provide engraving services to make identification easy, should a resident's bike be stolen. Bike registration is also available at no charge from USF Parking Services, or the UP B.A.T. (Bike Anti-Theft) program.

Bicycle commuting is a great way to squeeze regular exercise into a hectic schedule.

Visit www.tampabaycycle.com for events and cycling information.

JUST BEWARE BIKE STEALING USF PROFESSORS!!!

[likeshoes]

kat makes too much money while the employees @ USF & MEDICAL CLINIC make little or none. i say get rid of him & split his pay w/employees, he should have just bought the damn bike as a good gesture.

[Karl]

Obama says Harvard trained financial MBA's who can help with the banking crises can only earn $500,000 per year. This guy gets $350,000 of government money and he's out there stealing bicycles.

[SAV]

Maybe he borrowed Lance Armstrong's bike too???

[John]

And this guy is in a position of power in an institution that teaches our children. Our country is broken from the top on down. No stimulus package is going to fix the ills of our society. For all that our country could have been, look what it has become....

[sys]

An interview on the radio with the person that parked the bike (it belongs to her friend) says that the bike was returned after the security tape was posted on youtube. The thief also called the owner and begged him to pretend that it was all a misunderstanding. And the security cameras that he also takes credit for installing have been there for 2 years prior to his employment at USF. He should be treated like any other thief.

[mfore4]

8:45pm, hummmm.

A lying, waffling story that contradicts itself on significant points ... hummm.

He is "lending" this bike (which is not his property to lend) to this person to go to the DMV, yet it is subsequently loaded into a van. ... hummm.

Obviously, the DMV is not open for business at that hour ... who would tell such a stupid lie (answer: someone who lives in the delusional world of the drug addicted)....hummm...

I smell drug deal; drug couriers frequently use bicycles.