Independent Auditor Will Review Clarkstown Police Overtime

In response to a question about police department overtime at Tuesday’s town board meeting, Clarkstown Councilman Frank Borelli said the town’s auditor would be reviewing the records.  Overtime became an issue in February when it was announced that 11-year department veteran Officer William Sherwood resigned over a discrepancy involving four hours of overtime.

At the February 5 meeting, Police Chief Michael Sullivan said the department would conduct a review of staff overtime records from 2012.  Several community members asked the town to retain an independent auditor to handle the process.

On Thursday, Supervisor Alex Gromack confirmed the town asked its auditor Korn Rosenbaum LLP of Pomona to conduct a separate in depth review of police overtime. Korn Rosenbaum began its annual audit of the town’s books on February 1.  Gromack said it is usually a two-month process and that the town audit will be completed before the overtime review begins.

“We’’ see if their conclusions as an independent CPA firm match up with the police,” explained Gromack.

He said the police are expected to finish in about two weeks and at that point it will be determined if reviews of other years should be undertaken. Gromack said the results from Korn Rosenbaum should be available by April 30.

He stated the firm was not charging the town more to review the police overtime.

“They agreed to do that as an extension of their audit,” said Gromack.