Cameras were lined up in Annapolis this afternoon when Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen appeared with Police Chief Michael Pristoop and Finance Director Tim Ellliott to explain more details about the nearly $150,000 in checks and cash that disappeared from City Hall sometime between the afternoon of June 7 and the next morning. Ironically, City Council voted that same evening to approve Cohen’s budget. Less than $4,000 was in currency with the remainder in checks already stamped for deposit only, but the oddest thing of all is that Elliott, who was responsible for closing up the night the theft occurred, never informed the mayor. He found out when Pristoop called him a week later to provide an update. Chief Administrative Officer Doug Smith, who is leaving his position within a couple of weeks was informed, but somehow never told Cohen either.
Cohen said he was “furious” that he was not notified but said little about what if anything he would do, which leads this reporter to wonder, what does it take to get somebody fired? Elliott took full responsibility for the lapse in never informing his boss, but could offer no explanation as to why. Cohen did stress that other procedures in reporting the incident to the police were properly followed and that action is being taken to tighten up security.
