A Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office employee was suspended for three days after the department’s 2010 audit showed he misused his county purchasing card.
The report just released by the county auditor’s office said property evidence clerk Jim Daughetee purchased items from a vendor, such as evidence bags, totaling $21,886.
He arranged to have the vendors charge the county procurement card at various dates so the purchases wouldn’t appear to exceed the monthly card limit, the report said.
“The effect of this payment arrangement resulted in various violations of state law and county purchasing rules, including the failure to request and obtain public bids and the failure to obtain approval from the County Mayor and/or County Commission prior to the purchase of goods costing in excess of $10,000,” the audit report said.
Sheriff Jim Hammond said Daughetee was given an unpaid three-day suspension after the misuse of the card came to light.