Parks & Rec. abusing credit cards at Sam’s Club?

Credit cards being abused a Sam’s Club? NBC12′s Rachel DePompa reports on the findings of an audit of the City of Richmond’s parks department that details findings of more than $200,000 spent by park employees during a four-year span for more than 900 purchases, approximately one for every 1.5 days during that span. Hopefully with […]

August 22, 2011; 7:06 PM • by Phil Riggan

Credit cards being abused a Sam’s Club? NBC12’s Rachel DePompa reports on the findings of an audit of the City of Richmond’s parks department that details findings of more than $200,000 spent by park employees during a four-year span for more than 900 purchases, approximately one for every 1.5 days during that span.

Hopefully with the April hiring of Dr. Norman Merrifield as Richmond hires Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities this business was put to an end. The four-year span was mostly during J.R. Pope’s tenure as director. There are several parts of the audit [.PDF] that are mind-blowing, but this one has so many things that have so little to do with the focus of what a parks department should be doing:

There were numerous gift cards, electronics, and other items the investigators reviewed due to their dollar value and risk of misappropriation. The investigators identified the following 492 items that were purchased at a cost of $44,595, and consulted DPR personnel to locate those items. The investigators were informed that the type of items they were looking for would primarily be located in 18 community centers or other similar specific facilities. Prior to visting these 18 locations, the investigator discussed 294 items purchased in FY2010 and FY2011 with the employees who made purchases.