Inquiring Minds Want To Know

From:
The Florida Times-Union
July 12, 2007Camden credit paid for Christmas
By Gordon Jackson, The Times-Union

WOODBINE - A Camden County Sheriff's Office employee has been asked to repay the county $893.49 for unauthorized purchases on a county credit card she apparently used to buy Christmas gifts. -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Despite being asked to repay the money in February, county officials said there is no record Gina Evanson, the Sheriff's Office purchasing agent, has repaid the money.
County finance director Mike Fender said he was reviewing itemized credit card expenses of county employees in February when he noticed items purchased Dec. 24 at the Wal-Mart in St. Marys. The items were bought without a purchase order number on a credit card issued to Evanson, he said. The statement showed the card was used to buy items such as a trampoline, toys, a DVD player and a TV.
When confronted about the unauthorized charges, Evanson said she mistakenly used the county credit card instead of one of her personal cards, Fender said.
Evanson said she realized she used the wrong card when she received a monthly statement for her personal credit card without the Christmas gift charges. Fender said Evanson told him she mailed a check Feb. 20 to Wal-Mart after she learned about the mistake.
Evanson provided county officials with a photocopy of a canceled check she said she mailed to Wal-Mart for the exact amount of the purchases charged to the county credit card. But a memo Fender sent to Evanson on May 31 says the check "still has not cleared on the Wal-Mart statement."
"I gave her several opportunities to clear this up before I sent the letter," he said. "I've asked for four months to have this cleared up. I'm trying to protect the county's interest."
The county hasn't been reimbursed for the outstanding debt, Fender said Wednesday.
Fender said he has contacted Wal-Mart about getting the county account credited for the purchases, but the company won't respond to his questions.
"Wal-Mart won't talk about someone else's account," he said.
Lt. William Terrell, a sheriff's spokesman, said Evanson made an "honest mistake" when she used the county credit card. But Sheriff Bill Smith has given Evanson a written reprimand for using the card, Terrell said. The reprimand was placed in her personnel file, Terrell said.
When asked why the sheriff reprimanded Evanson if her use of the card was a mistake, Terrell said, "She should have known better. I'm sure she'll never do it again."
Terrell said Evanson is working with Wal-Mart to prove she paid for the items by check and to get the company to repay the county.
"I'm sure she's taking care of this," he said.
Evanson couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. A Camden County Sheriff's Office policy said all media inquiries must be made to Terrell.
County Commissioner Steve Berry called for more than a written reprimand because Evanson should have resolved the issue months ago by directly paying the county.
"Personally, I think it's poor judgment on her part," Berry said. "I would not want her in charge of purchasing in any department. This woman needs removal from the position as purchasing agent for the Sheriff's Office."
Berry said there is no record of Evanson's check clearing a bank, making her claim of repaying Wal-Mart for the purchases "extremely suspicious."
"This was brought to her attention in February; this was brought to her attention in May," he said. "In February, it was an oversight. Now it's July, it's theft."
gordon.jackson@jacksonville.com,
(912) 729-3672

TRSP Review: I agree with Mr. Berry the question is what is he going to do about it? Will he stand up and demand a full investigation of the Sheriff's Office.

This is theft no question. If this was bought with a credit card then Wal-Mart already got paid. Why is she sending Wal-Mart the check? Why not just hand it over to Mr. Fender?

The next question will be who got the gifts? Remember this question.

This all happened days after another couple of Sheriff Office employees jumped on the computer and did background checks on private citizens. What kind of Sheriff's Office is Bill Smith running? It sure is not an open and honest office.

AND STILL NO RESPONSE FROM THE COMMISSIONERS ON TWO EMAILS NOW.

So much for Sears wanting to restore professionalism in county government.

To all the good and honest Sheriff Deputies:
I am sorry that you are in the middle of this. It is not my nor anyone Else's intention to make any of you good officers look bad. You guys stand above all and we see that. You do the best you can do given the events that are surrounding you. We still feel safe knowing you are on the streets. Please don't take our complaining about your boss personally. This has nothing to do with your abilities. This is clearly a leadership problem that starts with the Commissioners and the Sheriff.

Please bear with us during these troubling times and once these matters are handled properly we will be a better and stronger community for standing on the side of righteousness, and not on the Good ole Boys side.

Thank you for your service and some of you for your tips. They are both greatly appreciated.