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Sheriff Joe Arpaio's employees ordered to testify about department's finances

by Yvonne Wingett - Nov. 2, 2010 04:40 PM

The Arizona Republic

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday ordered 13 of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's employees to testify about financial activities within the agency, which was accused by county officials this week of creating a hidden personnel database that may have allowed years of misspending.

The board served subpoenas to staff working on budget, finance and payroll issues, and those working with the media. The board also asked Arpaio to turn over financial documents, software, 12 years worth of timesheets, and records that track employee information. Sheriff's Deputy Chief Jack MacIntyre questioned the board's motives in issuing the subpoenas, accusing members of grandstanding.

MacIntyre said some of the documents sought already have been provided to county officials through a previous board subpoena. He said it is virtually impossible for sheriff's officials to produce the records sought before next Monday's deadline, and pointed out that the agency retains timecard records dating back three years, not the 12 years requested by county officials.

"I really think this is one of those schoolyard 'well, we'll try and show you' things," MacIntyre said. "Even if we went back for the years that we had - which is to 2006 - that would require over one million documents to be produced in four days. Why don't we shut down the Sheriff's Office and do just that?"

Supervisors have launched an internal investigation into financial management of the Sheriff's Office, and continue to examine county credit card use, sheriff's extradition costs and the history of payments from a restricted pot of money known as detention funds.

County budget officials believe the Sheriff's Office may have misspent up to $16 million a year from detention funds for uses not permitted by law, and are working to determine how far back the problem stretches. County officials have said the problem could cost upwards of $80 million, but say they need more information to identify the exact amount.

Sheriff's officials dispute that the agency intentionally hid the information, and have said that county administrators should have been aware of a separate internal bookkeeping system maintained by the Sheriff's Office. They say they previously warned county administrators that the county payroll system was not adequate for the rapidly-growing agency.

County officials have asked the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate, and on Monday deputized six federal prosecutors. The federal agency already is investigating allegations of abuse of power involving Arpaio, former County Attorney Andrew Thomas and others.

Tuesday's subpoenas targeted sheriff's staff who may have specific knowledge about security and transport functions of the Sheriff's Office, or are familiar with the agency's payroll and financial records. The employees are scheduled to testify in November and December.

Those subpoenaed were Chief Financial Officer Loretta Barkell, spokeswoman Lisa Allen, Shelly Bunn, Jeff Jones, Gertrude Jackson, Bill VanAusdal, Brian Stutsman, Taanya Creek, Suzanne Ashmore, Frank McWilliams, Lynn Adams, Dan Campion, and Don Schneidmiller.