Shelby County Record Destruction Confirmed?

Shelby Co. (ECWd) –

As reported in this article, I asked for specific records that they received permission to destroy. The goal was to determine if they actually were destroyed or not.  The history of this issue is covered in several articles that can be read here, here, and here.

What we would call a cryptic response was received regarding records they have failed to produce to date.

“I provided documents for items 2, 4 and 7.  All other items (1, 3, 5, 6) were listed on the records disposal certificate and approved by the Local Records Commission for disposal.”

For the record, all the items requested were listed on the record disposal certificate so it appears from the response, that “some” of the records were not destroyed but the other requested items still not produced were not sure of.  These were the requested items, with the items in bold not provided yet.

1. Copy of the 2018 Receipt Book
2. Copy of the 2018 attendance report records ( vacation, sick, personal time)
3. Payroll Bi-Monthly reports 8/24/2017- 8/25/2018
4. Copy of the 2017 attendance report records ( vacation, sick, personal time)
5. Payroll Bi-Monthly reports 9/1/2016 – /8/31/2017
6. Payroll Bi-Monthly reports 9/1/2015 – 8/31/2016
7. Copy of the 2016 attendance report records ( vacation, sick, personal time)

Our goal was to determine if the records approved for destruction were actually destroyed, which to date we still cannot confirm without assuming they were based on the response. We sent the following as we are not going to assume anything when it comes to Shelby County.  As of this publication have not received any response.

I understand they were listed on the records disposal certificate and approved by the local records commission for disposal, however, that does not tell me if they were actually destroyed. 

If those records are not being provided because they were destroyed you need to articulate that in your response.

If those records were destroyed then it appears according to the Illinois Secretary of State, the destruction violates the law on such destruction because they were needed for an ongoing audit.  We also know there is an ongoing criminal investigation regarding illegal gun sales and alleged payroll fraud and the 2018 receipt book contained the very records pertaining to who purchased guns in violation of the law.

Looking at this matter along with the false information provided to the forensic audit regarding certain log-in log-out records it’s clear a proper criminal investigation was justified.  The question now is will anyone ever be held accountable?

In the event, the Sheriff’s Office responds and confirms the status of the records we will update accordingly.