County of Spartanburg, S.C. Interim Citing inexplicable financial anomalies discovered during a departmental investigation, Spartanburg County Sheriff Jeffrey Stephens has formally asked for a state-led audit of the county’s Crime Stoppers account.
The news was made at Stephens’ first press conference, when he highlighted financial accountability and transparency as his primary priority. The sheriff’s department announced on Tuesday that the audit request had been officially sent to the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office.
Audit Requested After Red Flags in Bookkeeping
The nonprofit Crime Stoppers account, which enables locals to anonymously report crime tips in exchange for potential rewards, had problems that internal auditors found. The sheriff’s office claims that the audit team found discrepancies that were impossible to confirm or explain using the bookkeeping records that were accessible.
According to Stephens’ office, the Crime Stoppers Fund is a nonprofit organization that does not get direct funding from county taxes because it is a 501(c)(3) account. Nevertheless, Stephens underlined that thorough financial oversight requires examining all accounts, whether they are charity or public.
In order to help us gain a better understanding of its present status, we have requested that the Secretary of State perform a formal audit of this 501(c)(3) account, the sheriff’s office said in an official statement.
Sheriff Pledges Transparency and Public Updates
Stephens stated that his administration’s strategy will be based on honesty and openness, and he pledged to keep the public updated during the audit process.
The sheriff reaffirmed that even non-county accounts must be examined if they are involved in law enforcement or community safety initiatives in the department’s complete public statement.
Every action we do is guided by that commitment, the department stated. As we proceed through this process, we’ll keep the public updated.
What Comes Next in the Audit Process?
In the upcoming weeks, the Secretary of State’s Office is anticipated to start its investigation, which will concentrate on determining whether any money in the Crime Stoppers account was mismanaged or misreported. The sheriff’s office has not identified any people connected to the irregularities, and no charges of criminal misconduct have been brought.
To guarantee complete financial openness going forward, Sheriff Stephens is also examining additional county and non-county accounts associated with the sheriff’s office.
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