Courtesy of the Crestline Advocate
Thousands of dollars in public donations earmarked for a drug dog and handler have been sitting in a local checking account since 2012, according to the Crestline Advocate.
The money, which now totals $16,544, had been donated to the Crestline Police Department to fund a drug dog and its handler, though the Crestline Village Council has yet to approve the project.
Councilmember Gene Toy brought the issue to light during a council meeting earlier this year. He indicated that a local business owner had made a large donation to the K9 fund but now wanted his money returned. The Advocate stated that Mayor Dave Sharrock publicly agreed the donation should be returned, though banking records obtained by the Crestline newspaper show no large withdrawals from the account.
The K9 fund and project has come under fire in recent months. The council has not shown a willingness to approve the project, especially in light of comments made by former longtime councilmember Mike Blaising, who stated that a previous K9 unit had been the cause of a lawsuit. Concern has also been voiced over the funds being held in an account separate from the village books and which are under the exclusive control of police chief Joe Butler. The checking account, which has not earned any significant interest since it was opened in March of 2012, is exempt from audits and transparency requirements.
Councilmember Allen Laferty, who chairs the police and fire committee, stated that steps are being taken to set up a non-profit, 501 foundation for the K9, police auxiliary, and volunteer fireman accounts, reported the Advocate.
The full story can be read in the April 29 edition of the Crestline Advocate.