Successful State Audit for Dukes County Sheriff’s Office
The Dukes County Sheriff’s Office has been issued a clean bill of health in a Performance and Compliance Audit by the Massachusetts State Auditor’s Office. The audit examined financial and management activities from July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018, in accordance with Chapter 11, Section 12, of the Massachusetts General Laws. Audit objectives focused on whether non-payroll expenses were reasonable, allowable and directly related to the mission of the agency; whether the agency was properly administering its contracting process for goods and services; and whether the agency was properly administering overtime for its employees to ensure they were reasonable, allowable and properly authorized.
The audit revealed “no significant instances of noncompliance, under generally accepted government auditing standards,” garnering high marks from State Auditors and requiring no response from the agency.
Pleased to share the results of the audit, Sheriff Robert W. Ogden attributes his agency’s success to the fiscal efficiency, diligence and integrity of his management and operational staff: “All of my Deputies, Tele-communicators and Administration staff represent our core values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect. I am extremely pleased with the results of this audit, reflecting our dedication to serve the community of Martha’s Vineyard in compliance with State requirements, always conscious of fiscal responsibility, rising above and beyond the challenges of our structural deficits in order to provide multi-disciplines of regional Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Correctional services.”
Sheriff Ogden credited the hard work of his staff, Col. James D. Neville, Lt. Col. Durwood Araujo and Lt. Col. Peter Graczykowski, for a shepherding the audit process to a successful conclusion. “We are thankful for the expediency and professionalism with which the State Auditor’s Office completed the audit,” added Lt. Col. Graczykowski, “This type of thorough review, which validates how well we conduct business, lives up to the Auditor’s mission of making government work better.”
With 46 employees and the State appropriation in the amount of $2,973,969 in fiscal year 2019, the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office operates with competitive efficiency among Martha’s Vineyard Law Enforcement agencies. The Sheriff’s Office provides services such as the Regional Lock-Up for all six of Martha’s Vineyard Towns, Jail and House of Correction, Regional Emergency Communication Center, Civil Process Division, Community Outreach Programs, and participates in shared law enforcement programs; with the jurisdictional ability to provide mutual aid in every Town.
For access to the full State Auditor’s findings, see the SAO report at https://www.mass.gov/audit/audit-of-the-dukes-county-sheriffs-office.
For more information please contact the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office at 508-696-0808 or visit www.dukescountysheriff.com
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