<p>Officials at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, University of Georgia and Auburn University say they plan to investigate a newspaper report that mentally ill residents of a Columbus facility were used as security staff at college and professional football games.</p><p>The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported Tuesday that for the past two years residents of Greater Grace Community Center were among the personnel conducting security checks of fans at home football games for Georgia, Auburn and the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.</p><p>The mental health facility _ a residential center that operated in a Depression-era prison _ was shut down Feb. 1 for violating city building codes.</p><p>The use of the center's residents in security details at major sporting events, confirmed to the newspaper by four of the residents, was not disclosed to the universities or the arena operators.</p><p>The workers were part of a Contemporary Services Corp. security crew whose work ranged from bag checks to on-field security. The California-based company provides security support services at major sporting arenas throughout the country.</p><p>Two of the former residents, Richard Berg and Margarete Church, told the Ledger-Enquirer that they were working the games for Greater Grace Baptist Church, which is affiliated with the center, and the Rev. Robert Upshaw, who pastors the church and operated the center.</p><p>Jay Purves, regional manager for Contemporary Services and responsible for its offices in Atlanta and Auburn, Ala., said Upshaw told him the volunteers working the events were from Greater Grace Baptist Church.</p><p>"He is the group leader for Greater Grace," Purves said. "They provided people to work as volunteers to raise money for their nonprofit as a fundraiser."</p><p>But former center residents Berg and Church say that's not what they were told. Berg and Church both lived at the center in 2004 when they say they worked games in Atlanta, Auburn and Athens.</p><p>Berg, 32, said he has been diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses including anti-social personality disorder, bipolar disorder and homicidal tendencies. He said Upshaw promised him $30 per game to go to the sporting events, but he never got the promised money. Berg said Upshaw would deduct $10 for gas to get to the event, another $10 for a meal ticket and dock an hour's pay if he went to the restroom while working.</p><p>"If he is promising those individuals money, that is illegal," Purves said. "The money is supposed to go to a charitable organization. That check is made out to Greater Grace."</p><p>Upshaw filled out proper tax forms and provided a tax identification number to Contemporary Services, Purves said.</p><p>"What he has done or is doing is on him," Purves said. "Everything we have done with him is on the up and up."</p><p>Residents interviewed by the newspaper also said the only instructions received from Upshaw before traveling to the events concerned attire _ black pants and shoes, and white shirts. Once they got to the sites, Contemporary Services employees would give them instructions and a yellow jacket or shirt.</p><p>Upshaw did not immediately return a telephone message left with his wife Tuesday by The Associated Press.</p><p>The Columbus newspaper made several attempts to contact Upshaw, including visiting his home where no one answered the door. The telephone number at the center and his cell phone number have been disconnected.</p><p>Upshaw's wife, Genevin O. Upshaw, is listed as secretary of the nonprofit Greater Grace Community Center Inc. A parole officer for the state of Georgia, she has said she would ask her husband to call reporters for a response.</p><p>A Georgia Dome spokeswoman said Contemporary Services has a contract to provide security for the arena through 2010.</p><p>"Safety and security are always the top priority at the Georgia Dome for both our patrons and our employees," said Katy Pando. "We take this situation very seriously and will investigate."</p><p>Claude Felton, associate athletic director at Georgia, said the university also has a contract with the company.</p><p>"We rely on them to furnish personnel that are qualified for the various jobs that are required," Felton said. "I am sure we are going to look into the matter and get more information from CSC."</p><p>Auburn University has contracted with the company since 2002, said Tim Jackson, executive associate athletic director. The company has handled its duties professionally and has dealt timely with any issues, he said.</p><p>"This is the first we've heard of it today. I don't have a loss of confidence in this company, but I need to get more information on what happened and how it happened," he said.</p><p>Jackson said the university is concerned and will investigate the matter.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cdee2c)</p>
