There is the feeling that something is amiss in the Stone County Sheriff’s Office.
Stone County Sheriff, Richard Hill, continues the practice of permitting an employee to provide meals to inmates – a lucrative proposition that has been ongoing for several years.
In 2007, the state’s auditor’s office noted that, “The Sheriff’s bookkeeper approves payments to herself for the preparation of prisoner meals and there is no evidence in the County Commission meeting minutes to indicate the County Commission was involved in the bid process for these services. As a result, there is an appearance of a conflict of interest related to the $113,000 paid for prisoner meals during 2007.”[adsenseyu1]
Since that time, the sheriff has turned over the so-called bid process to the Stone County Commissioners, however, an examination shows they failed to place legal bids for the service of providing meals, and instead, published it as an article in the Crane newspaper only.
While the annual fee of more than $100,000 has been paid to Hill’s bookkeeper, and despite the audit’s warning that it may appear as a conflict of interest, Hill has taken no real steps to provide a fair bidding of the service.
In the same audit report, the audit noted, “Poor reconciliation procedures of the Sheriff’s bank account has resulted in the overpayment of fees and a negative bank account balance. Additionally, better controls are needed over cash receipts collected at various locations within the Sheriff’s Department. Bookkeeping duties are not adequately segregated, and fees were not timely and accurately turned over to the County Treasurer.”
Just two weeks ago, the sheriff’s office announced a roundup of alleged sex-offender violators.
However, after receiving the warrants and affecting the arrests of several suspects, the county prosecutor’s office refused to file charges against the majority. At least two sources inside the sheriff’s office have told the Sentinel the arrests were aimed at getting publicity for the sheriff’s upcoming campaign.
Other sources, inside the office, have said the sheriff has a difficult time keeping people because, “he will never be challenged on anything and hates anyone who doesn’t do what he wants, when he wants.”
After Branson West Chief of Police, Doug Rader announced he will seek the office of sheriff, Hill released him as a trainer for the department, claiming budget issues. At the same time, one of Hill’s underlings told Rader it was for a different reason. While there is no evidence that Hill removed Rader for any subversive reason, the fact he will face Rader in an election leads one to speculate on the sheriff’s real motivation.
Recently, Hill announced he would seek re-election, despite an earlier statement where he said he would not run again.

 

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