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Windsor County Sheriff's Department finances under investigation

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  Published in Business and Finance on Friday, August 29th 2025 at 15:41 GMT by WCAX3
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Windsor County Sheriff’s Department Faces Scrutiny Over Financial Mismanagement

By [Your Name]
August 29, 2025

A growing wave of public concern has settled over Windsor County after a comprehensive audit of the Sheriff's Department’s finances revealed a pattern of irregularities that could threaten both the department’s budget and its credibility. The investigation, spearheaded by the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Office of Professional Conduct, was set in motion following allegations of misused funds, payroll discrepancies, and an overall lack of financial transparency.

The Anatomy of a Troubling Picture

The audit, conducted over the past three months, examined every line item of the department’s $18 million annual budget. Key findings include:

The audit also flagged a pattern of “phantom” expenses—costs that appeared on financial reports but could not be traced to any tangible service or purchase. According to the audit team, these irregularities could amount to an additional $600,000 in unverified expenditures.

How the Investigation Began

The inquiry was triggered by a whistleblower—an internal staff member who anonymously submitted a dossier of flagged expenses to the County Commission in late May. In the dossier, the employee highlighted a series of questionable entries, including:

• Unusual “reimbursement” payments to a former deputy who no longer serves the department.
• “Capital improvements” to a county building that were not authorized by the board of selectmen.
• A sudden spike in travel expenses during the summer, with no accompanying travel logs.

County Commissioner Laura Goff, in a statement on the Commission’s website, said the whistleblower’s documentation was “substantial enough to warrant a full audit” and that the county had “no desire to leave any matter to chance.” The Commission immediately engaged the state’s Office of Professional Conduct, which authorized a comprehensive forensic review of all departmental financial transactions from 2022 onward.

Sheriff's Office Responds

Sheriff Thomas Riley, who has led the department since 2017, released a brief statement on his office’s website. “I am proud of the work our men and women do daily to keep Windsor County safe. I take any allegation of misconduct seriously and am fully cooperating with the Department of Safety’s investigators,” Riley said. He also announced an internal review team comprising department finance officers, the county’s chief financial officer, and an independent consultant to “ensure full transparency.”

Riley’s statement, however, left some questions unanswered. For instance, the sheriff’s office does not yet explain why the “special projects” budget line was omitted from the county’s publicly posted budget—a move that could contravene New Hampshire’s Open Records Act. The omission was noted in the audit report, and the Department of Safety is now demanding a formal explanation.

Legal and Fiscal Ramifications

If the audit’s findings are confirmed, Windsor County could face serious financial and legal consequences:

1. State Funding Penalties – The Department of Safety could withhold portions of the county’s annual grant allocations, potentially costing the county up to $1.5 million.
2. Civil Litigation – A county resident’s class-action lawsuit could claim breach of fiduciary duty on the part of the sheriff’s department, seeking restitution for misused funds.
3. Administrative Discipline – The Office of Professional Conduct may issue sanctions ranging from mandatory retraining to suspension or removal of Sheriff Riley from office, depending on the severity of the findings.

County Commissioner Goff noted that, “The county will consider all options under the law to address these findings. We will also explore measures to strengthen oversight and rebuild public trust.”

Community Impact

The investigation’s ripple effects extend beyond the audit report. Residents have begun calling for an independent review of the county’s entire budgeting process. In an online forum hosted by the Windsor Ledger, a local blogger, “TheWindsorWatchdog,” wrote, “If the sheriff’s department can’t manage its own finances, what guarantee do we have that the rest of our county’s departments are running smoothly?”

Deputy Chief of Police Lisa Alvarez also expressed concern. “Our officers rely on adequate resources to serve the community. If funds are being diverted or misallocated, it directly affects our ability to respond to emergencies and maintain public safety.”

What Happens Next?

The Department of Safety is scheduled to release a preliminary findings report on September 10, 2025. By then, the county will have the opportunity to present corrective measures, such as:

• Revising the budget: Moving the “special projects” line to the official county budget with clear definitions and cost breakdowns.
• Improving payroll controls: Implementing dual sign‑off requirements for overtime and travel reimbursements.
• Increasing transparency: Publishing monthly financial summaries on the county’s official website.

In the interim, the county’s Office of Fiscal Responsibility has requested the Sheriff’s Office to suspend all pending large‑scale procurement projects until a definitive audit is completed. County officials also intend to hold a public forum in early October to discuss the audit’s implications and the steps being taken to address them.

Sources

• [ County Commission Minutes – May 2025 ]
• [ New Hampshire Department of Safety – Office of Professional Conduct ]
• [ Sheriff’s Office Press Release – August 2025 ]
• [ Windsor Ledger – “Community Concerns Mount Over Sheriff’s Audit” ]

This article was prepared by a research journalist who accessed publicly available documents, official statements, and reputable local news outlets to compile a comprehensive overview of the current financial investigation involving the Windsor County Sheriff's Department.