OIG investigated allegations that several thousand dollars were missing from a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) police department evidence room. We also investigated allegations that a senior officer with the police department mishandled evidence, falsified employee timesheets, associated with a known drug dealer, and was impaired by pain medication while on-duty.
Our investigation confirmed that cash was missing from the evidence room, but we could not determine the disposition of the missing money or the full amount missing due to deficiencies in evidence handling procedures at the police department. We also confirmed the senior officer kept in his office safe a “slush fund” of cash removed from the evidence room (which he used to make unapproved purchases), and drug evidence that had not been properly processed. Finally, the senior officer admitted that he falsified subordinates’ timesheets, hired a known drug user and drug dealer to clean his house, and had been on duty while impaired by pain medication.
This matter was presented to the Department of Justice, which declined the case for prosecution.