Auditors to probe possible public theft

Potential theft of public funds involving a Clallam County Treasurer's Office employee are being investigated by the Clallam County Sheriff's Office, Port Angeles Police Department and state Auditor's Office.

Potential theft of public funds involving a Clallam County Treasurer’s Office employee are being investigated by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department and state Auditor’s Office.

Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said the amount of possibly missing money is believed to be enough for felony charges, which is more than $1,500.

The investigation is the result of "an anomaly" in the department’s records that was discovered a week and a half ago, he said.

"There’s a procedure we need to follow in these situations. Everything was frozen and the state auditors were called. It may be nothing, we just don’t know yet," Benedict said.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jim Borte said everyone in the department is continuing to work as usual until the state’s auditors arrive, possibly Thursday.

"I can say they have locked up the records so they are secure until state auditors arrive later this week," he said.