The suspension of a Baltimore City employee for allegedly stealing money in a check-writing scheme has led to a citywide probe of the misuse of petty cash.
“I?m looking at other folks who handle impress funds, cash money, and petty cash money,” city Inspector General Hilton Green said Tuesday.
“I?m just double-checking to make sure money is being handled the right way.”
Green would not reveal which agencies he was investigating nor if anyone was targeted.
On Monday, Green announced he had suspended Nikki Cooper without pay pending an administrative hearing for writing fake checks off a city account to herself.
Cooper, an office assistant for the city?s War Memorial Commission, allegedly confessed to stealing $5,200 from the agency?s checking account.
The theft was discovered after checks drawn on the fund used to maintain the city?s War Memorial bounced. Because Cooper allegedly wrote checks out of sequence, the theft initially eluded city auditors.
Sterling Clifford, spokesman for Mayor Sheila Dixon, lauded Green?s efforts.
“That?s why we have an inspector general. He has been doing a great job for the city ? not just fraud but waste and mismanagement as well.”
“The mayor is pleased he has successfully found someone taking money from the city,” Clifford said.
Both the Baltimore Police Department and the city state?s attorney?s office are working with the inspector general?s office in the ongoing investigation of Cooper.
“We are aware of this case and it remains under investigation,” said Joseph Sviatko, spokesman for city prosecutor Patricia Jessamy.
In a statement released by Green?s office, Cooper allegedly admitted she had taken money “without approval.”
Green?s investigation pointed out a “glaring weakness in the internal procedures,” the statement said. The city comptroller?s office is currently auditing the War Memorial Commission?s accounts to determine how much was stolen.
