"This shows you always need to ask the questions you thought you have the answers to," city manager Sean Stegall said Tuesday. "We'll be looking at what operational systems need to be re-examined and rechecking internal controls."
Animal control officer James Rog, 36, of South Elgin, is accused of taking more than $6,000 from a checking account created for the Elgin Explorer Post 1445. Officials were previously not aware of the account, which was opened in March 2012 and showed unexplained ATM withdrawals, according to Elgin Police Chief Jeff Swoboda.
Rog was charged with two Class 3 felony counts of theft and two Class 3 felony counts of official misconduct Monday. He resigned his position, which was a civilian post, posted bond and has a court appearance Feb. 3 at the Kane County Judicial Center.
Deposits to the checking account are believed to have come from fundraising efforts and dues paid to the program.
"This is disappointing," Councilman John Steffen said. "I know about 10 Explorers who also have been involved with the Elgin River Rats rugby club, and they're good kids."
Councilman Terry Gavin said the alleged crime points to the need to keep an eye on all money coming in for city programs and to need for tighter controls.
"It's sad, and I'm taken aback by it," Gavin said.
Rog had been on administrative leave since Nov. 11 after the Elgin Police Department took a look at its Explorer program following the September suicide death of a Fox Lake police officer. Authorities in Fox Lake said Lt. Joseph Gliniewicz committed suicide and staged his death to look like a murder fearing alleged thefts from Fox Lake's Explorer program would soon be discovered.
The Elgin investigation started Nov. 4, and the department became aware of the checking account that day, according to Swoboda. Financial records from that account were turned over to the department on Nov. 11, when Rog was placed on paid administrative leave.
The Courier-News reported on the investigation last month after the city denied a portion of a Freedom of Information Act request for documents related to the Explorer program. The request sought information on community outreach and youth programs in the department. The department released some documents, but some were denied pending the investigation.
A Courier-News examination of Explorer program spending showed Rog had accumulated 215 overtime or comp time hours so far in 2015 for his work with the Explorer program. Rog, who had been an Explorer himself as a teen, has been in charge of the Explorer program for about the past 10 years. In 2014, the last year for which online records are available, Rog's entire city compensation package totaled almost $82,000, including pension payments and benefits.
The program received $15,000 from the city budget in 2015, and Stegall said that same amount is set aside again for 2016.
"Every year the city gets a letter from our auditors asking for what might be possible weak spots," Mayor Dave Kaptain said. "I always mention any time cash is collected. We have to look at better ways of dealing with cash."
As a result of the recent charges, Fire Chief John Fahy said he has talked with the firefighters who oversee money in an account set up for that department's fire Explorer program. Fahy said funds in that account come from money the department gets from its share of foreign fire insurance taxes collected.
Fahy said he expects to get an accounting of the amount of money in the account and records of deposits and withdrawals this week.
Elgin Fire Department members also are among fire departments nationwide that take part in an annual drive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association where members collect money in firefighter boots from drivers along intersections. Fahy said the procedure is to count collections back on kitchen tables in fire houses, with several firefighters present and the amount recorded.
"It is the word of the guys," Fahy said. "I have faith in them that they are being honest."
Elgin's water director Kyla Jacobsen has first-hand experience overseeing donated money as treasurer for the environmental group Friends of the Fox River and for the Elgin Community Network.
"We are the fiscal agents for several other groups in Elgin and as such want to make sure that we have checks and balances," Jacobsen said. "The network has been around since 2001, and we've always had an independent accountant review our accounts."
Jacobsen also recommended that people making donations to any organization do so by check or through PayPal accounts.
"Any place there is cash being used there is greater potential for fraud," Stegall said. "It's good to keep the amount of cash as limited as possible."
Councilman Rich Dunne said those making out checks to anyone claiming to be raising money for a city-related program should write the check out directly to the city of Elgin and put the program name along the item line at the bottom of the check. Councilwoman Rose Martinez suggested making sure that any bank deposits and withdrawals require two signatures.
Steffen and Kaptain praised the police department for reviewing the Explorer program in light of the Fox Lake scandal.
"They self-regulated, did their due diligence, and made sure there was fair treatment. They did that themselves," Kaptain said.
(Chicago Tribune - Jan 5, 2016)
i am overcome with pit nutter vibes.
ReplyDelete