NASHVILLE – Crooked drug dealers aren’t the only thorn sticking in the side of Tennessee’s local judicial drug task forces, according to a state comptroller audit.
Six of the 24 multijurisdictional task forces – one out of every four – were plagued by problems of their own making such as sloppy record keeping, double billing for meals and missing equipment, state auditors found in a review of special funds operated under the auspices of district attorneys general during fiscal year 2009-10.
Among those with problems is the 10th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, which operates in Bradley, Polk, McMinn and Monroe counties.
Auditors are calling on the former 10th Judicial District director, Mike Hall, to repay the agency $311 for six travel advances. After getting the money, Hall charged up another $698.42 on credit cards “for meals and incidentals covered by these same advances,” the audit says.
While acknowledging that Hall’s charges included meals for other people, auditors pointed out they couldn’t “identify the special meals and incidentals incurred by the director” because of spotty documentation.