A Hudson Valley police department has a lot of explaining to do after state auditors couldn't find over $60,000 in seized cash and other items that were supposed to be in police custody.

The Times Herald Record quotes an 18-page report that details missing property at several police stations.  The Town of Newburgh is one of the departments that is being asked to answer for these missing items. In Newburgh alone, the auditors couldn't find approximately $63,400 in cash, drugs, firearms and even vehicles that were supposed to be a part of the PD's inventory.

Investigators are trying to find out where the items went. Newburgh is blaming poor recordkeeping.. The report quoted by the Record agrees that incomplete records are an issue:

Given the lack of accurate inventory records and documentation of inventory disposition, we were unable to determine if the missing items are the result of poor recordkeeping or theft.

Even more disturbing, the report found that some Newburgh items that were listed as "destroyed" were actually found in the office of the detective who's job it is to inventory the property. These items included five firearms.

Newburgh Chief Mike Clancy says that budget cuts have caused the recording errors. Right now he says there is just one person in charge of all inventory and information-technology.

We want to know what you think. Do you believe this is just a case of poor record keeping or do you think there may be more going on?

UPDATE - In response to our article, Newburgh Chief Mike Clancy sent us the following statement:

The audit process started in September, 2013.  Items from the property/evidence room at the TNPD are classified as “missing” by the OSC auditors because the tracking methods used didn’t conform to what they’d prefer to see.  They classified certain items as “missing” even though they saw the items and saw documentation of money transfers to other agencies, etc.  Our tracking methods were one area where changes were suggested.   I told OSC auditors in 2013 that I’d welcome them to refer any findings of criminal  wrongdoing to the DA or an independent law enforcement agency to investigate.   If there was evidence of theft, we’d want to know about it.  During several meetings, auditors said that they found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.   We saw the draft of this final report about 6 months ago and have already implemented some changes recommended by OSC.

Although the OSC report can be read to suggest possible wrongdoing to anyone reading it,  those who know how the auditors did their examinations would understand that tracking and classification methods were at issue – not missing items.  Their recommendations have been helpful and will lead to better evidence and property tracking by this Department.  (By the way, although the report states that the audit involved records from 1/1/2012 through 9/26/2013,  some of the drug monies were seized and transferred to other agencies in the mid-to-late 1990’s.  The vehicles that came into question were released 6-8 years ago.)

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