Friday, July 13, 2012

Who polices the police?

Or should I ask, who deputes the deputies? One in particular. The big one.

When Sheriff Nygren got his speeding ticket in Vilas County, Wisc. back in January, he was driving a white Chevy Tahoe with Illinois license plate 196 3705. Is this a privately-owned vehicle or is it owned and maintained by McHenry County?

If it's a privately-owned vehicle, then Sheriff Nygren can drive it anywhere he wants at any time (of course). And he can buy gas for it with his personal credit card anywhere, at any time.

Where does he get his gas? At the County fuel pump on Russel Court? Tax-free? For all his personal and vacation and out-of-state travel, is he allowed to use tax-free fuel? I don't think so!

But maybe it's a County vehicle. Then he can get his tax-free fuel there and drive the vehicle on County business. But, for a Sheriff, an administrator, does he really need a county car, with all the bells, whistles and (so I hear) heated leather seats?

And if it's a County- (taxpayer-) supported vehicle, what was Keith doing with it in Vilas County, Wisc., just a few miles away from his Minocqua, Wisc., $450,000 (at one time) home? On January 5, 2012? Was he investigating a crime? Not likely. More likely, just on an extended Christmas holiday vacation.

So, why the Tahoe? Why 300 miles from the Sheriff's Department headquarters? Why out-of-state? Why isn't the County Board up in arms over this? Where is the McHenry County Auditor? Is there even an Auditor?

The Mission of the Auditor can be found on the County's website:

"It is the mission of the McHenry County Auditor's Office to provide quality, cost-effective fiscal services to the citizens of the County through the functions of financial reporting and record keeping and also through a continuous auditing program. These two processes are designed to assist all members of the County Board, Elected Officials and Department Directors in their duties by providing them with accurate and meaningful information concerning the financial condition, policies, procedures, controls and performance measurement of the county."
The name of the Auditor is harder to find. In fact, it's not on the Auditor's website at all. Hmmm.... Psst... It's Pam Palmer, but you have to go to a different County webpage to find that, and this is where you find it: http://www.co.mchenry.il.us/yearbook/Pages/CountyOffices.aspx

"...continuous auditing function..." When do you think was the last time that Pam Palmer audited Nygren on his fuel usage??? Ever? Wasn't she the one who was worried about the State Attorney's buying some candy to toss to kids during parades?

Which brings up a whole, new question.

On that page are the names of the County's elected officials and their office telephone numbers. But why in the world would the city/town of their residence be listed?

Oh, look. Keith Nygren lives in Hebron. Wrong...  Maybe in Crystal Lake... I guess they'd better not put Minocqua (Wisconsin) or Cape Coral (Fla.) for his residence.

7 comments:

yagottabekidding said...

Depute: to appoint or delegate. What does that have to do with the post?

Gus said...

Well, I intended "depute" as sarcasm and didn't remember it from its first use in the 14th century.

Ms.Hillary said...

FOIA the fuel records from the county gas pump for his smart ride during that time.I bet there's a real big fill up before and big fill up after. No matter. He'll just use his county credit card to gas up in Minocqua. Is his wife a deputy? She has been seen driving his fancy ride also.

Ms.Hillary said...

The "DEPUTY'S" are forbidden to take their squads home if they live outside McHenry CO. They have to leave them in Woodstock and drive their own personal car even if it is just over the countyline a couple miles. Other Sheriff's let their deputies take their squads home if they live within X miles of the county line. Notice Lake County and Cook County Squads parked here in McHenry County. The Walrus won't budge on this issue, but thinks nothing of his OWN FREE RIDE.

How about OTHERS in the Sheriff Dept. (Jail and Courts)

How about old ANDY Z driving his wife and kids around in his County Ride. Sedlock and Miller drive them every where under the blue sky, Unless your SPECIAL don't get caught driving with family or outside the county. SUSPENDED!!!!!! Pictures at eleven.

Gus said...

Who (more than one deputy? more than one MCSD vehicle?) went to Missouri last Thanksgiving? And maybe not just to St. Louis, but on down I-55 toward Rolla or Springfield (Mo.)?

That ought to qualify as "outside McHenry County", wouldn't you say?

And when jail Boss Sedlock was in the hospital last year? Didn't family travel to visit him using the take-home squad? Who drove that take-home car (against MCSD policies) on those 100-mile round trips? Did the County pay for the gas? Did Nygren or Zinke dish out any discipline?

yagottabekidding said...

Advocate is from the mid 1300's as well. More sarcasm?

Ms.Hillary said...

Every knows about it. Double standards. At least the deputy's don't have to chant "long live the king" or bow. Not yet anyway.

Gus we all know where he went so just say when Andy loaded up the truck and went to Beverly or should we say gassed up the Tahoe (and family) and went to the OZARKS to see daddy. I can hear Flatt and Scruggs playing the Beverly Hillbilly Theme.