Audit of Sheriff's Department Shows Nothing Missing

An audit of the Effingham County Sheriff's Department shows nothing missing, neither funds nor property.

The audit was requested by the Effingham County Board in response to various allegations.

West and Company of Effingham was hired in December to conduct the audit for an amount not to exceed $16,000.  The firm was asked to audit the Department regarding property valued at over $500, and weapons that were acquired and their disposition over the previous three years.

(EFFINGHAM COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JIM NIEMANN)

A statement released by the County Board at their meeting Monday said the West and Company report indicates "no pattern of acquiring property to then sell it, or improperly dispose of it."  The procedure also looked at the weapons in the Sheriff's Department evidence vault and "found it to be secure in the reported contents."

In the statement, the Board is quoted as being "relieved to find there is no indication of using appropriated funds for personal use."

Following the meeting, County Board Chairman Jim Niemann said, "I believe the money (for the audit) was well-spent."  Niemann said he thinks the final price tag will be less than the $16,000 maximum.

By phone Monday evening, Effingham County Sheriff John Monnet said he was disappointed in how the findings of the audit were handled.  At the meeting, Niemann said a press release and an electronic version of the audit were available to the media after the meeting and then proceeded to the next agenda item.  The Sheriff wondered why after the considerable attention given the decision to proceed with the audit, there was so little attention given to the findings.

(EFFINGHAM COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN MONNET)

Attached to the Board statement about the audit was a letter sent by Niemann to Monnet in mid-March, requesting answers to questions over the disposal of squad cars in the last four years, a list of any equipment sold over the last four years, a separate account operated by the Sheriff's Department of drug forfeiture money that was not reported as part of the county budget, and why funds were invested into a high band communication system instead of going with a StarCom system utilized by the City of Effingham and by Illinois State Police.

Chief Deputy Sheriff John Niccum talked after the Monday meeting about the drug forfeiture money, as did Monnet.  Niccum said all of the funds are accounted for, and were used for purchase of squad cars, bulletproof vests and similar purchases.  

Monnet said the County Board at the time the funds were being received was making budget cuts and the decision was made to keep the funds separate.  He said the funds could not be used for general County expenses and said the funds were being audited at the Federal level so were being monitored.

Monnet said of the decision to keep the drug forfeiture funds separate, "maybe we were wrong, but we corrected that with the prior County Board."

West and Company did audit those funds and was able to account for all of those funds and the equipment acquired with the funds.

Niemann said since Niccum has taken over Chief Deputy duties, the Board has had no problems in getting the information they have requested.

There are still lingering disagreements between Monnet and the Board over the county's radio communications system, and the sheriff's handling of the dismissal of two county correctional officers who were later reinstated at an expense of $15,000 in attorney's fees and back pay to the employees.

Monnet said the dispute has colored his time as sheriff, saying, "I think people won't remember my first 11 years in office, only the last year."

Asked how he thinks things will proceed with the Sheriff's Department during the remainder of Monnet's term, which ends at the end of November, Niemann said he thinks the sheriff will serve out his term.