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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A top official hired to develop the City of Atlanta’s diverse workforce has been fired for allegedly abusing her power when she ushered her daughter into a city position, according to a letter sent to the Atlanta City Council obtained by Atlanta News First.

Tarlesha Smith, the commissioner of the city’s Department of Human Resources (DHR), is accused of using taxpayer money to benefit her family.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced the appointment of Smith, an attorney, to serve as the head of the HR department back in 2022.

Independent investigators have determined that Smith engaged in misconduct, allegedly abusing her power when she used taxpayer money to hire her daughter and retaliated against her daughter’s supervisor when they tried to fire her, according to a letter that LaChandra Burks, the city’s chief operation officer, sent to the city council Thursday.

Smith’s employment with the city has been terminated effective immediately, the letter said. A national search is now being conducted to find her replacement. In the meantime, attorney Calvin Blackburn – the chief of the city’s Department of Law Litigation Division – will serve as interim Human Resources commissioner, according to the letter.

“One of the pillars of Mayor Andre Dickens’s administration is effective, efficient, and ethical government; and we take allegations of wrongdoing very seriously, especially if it involves a leader of the organization,” Burks wrote.

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According to the letter, on May 9, 2024, Atlanta’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report about allegations that Smith “abused the power of her position regarding her daughter’s employment, retaliated against her daughter’s supervisor, and directed the personnel-related activities of another agency to benefit her immediate family member.”

The letter goes on to say that “we concluded that a conflict of interest was created when personnel matters involving her relative were not escalated” to the mayor’s office or the city’s Department of Law to be resolved.

Burks wrote that since the OIG can only make recommendations about disciplinary actions against city employees, “and as the OIG itself is the subject of DHR investigation(s) dating back to 2023,” Dickens’ administration assigned the matter to the city’s Department of Law for an independent investigation “to ensure a comprehensive review of the facts and to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

Smith was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of that investigation.

“The Department of Law has concluded its independent investigation into the allegations raised in the May 2024 OIG report,” Burks wrote Thursday. “The Law investigation led to the determination that Commissioner Smith engaged in misconduct, including having abused her power by encouraging: 1) preferential treatment for her daughter, in the hiring and execution of her duties as Compliance Analyst in the City of Atlanta Office of the City Solicitor, and 2) subsequent adverse action against her daughter’s direct supervisor Office of City Solicitor Director Jennifer Johnson.”

Atlanta News First has reached out to City of Atlanta officials for comment.