James Talton has officially been removed as director of the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Talton was placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation of the administrative and clinical practices of CAVHCS in August. Last week, federal officials recommended Talton be fired for neglect of duty.

Talton was removed from "federal service," a news release said. A VA spokeswoman last week said Talton had responded to the request for removal, but said she couldn't say what his response was for privacy reasons

The Montgomery Advertiser also obtained police reports, investigations, emails and court records that documented repeated unethical and criminal behavior by CAVHCS staff members, including one situation where an employee took a patient in the drug treatment program to a crack house.