EFFINGHAM, IL (ECWd) –

PRESS RELEASE, December 26, 2013. Due to recent events and concerns, the Effingham County Board has elected to hire the “West and Company” accounting firm to engage in agreed upon procedures for a “specific” audit of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

The Board’s items of concern, include, but are not limited to, the following:

-the amount of county funds spent on a high band radio system instead of the STARCOM 21 system;

-alleged discrepancies in procedures at the sheriff’s office;

-instances of alleged misconduct in the administration of the sheriff’s office.

The Board believes it is in the best interest of the people of Effingham County, and the operations of the county, to conduct this special audit to determine, among other things, exactly which items of property the sheriff’s office currently has in inventory – relative to items purchased and liquidated by the office during the past three fiscal years.

Because West and Company conduct’s the county’s normal audit and has contractually agreed to an hourly rate, along with its familiarity with the county’s finances and banking practices, the firm is well-suited to conduct this audit. The audit will focus on specific issues and items of property originally valued in an amount greater than $500. The outcome of the audit will be reviewed by the County Board and the Effingham County State’s Attorney’s Office.