Town of Gramercy

A former Gramercy police officer used the town’s credit card to buy about $7,500 in fuel for his personal use, according to an audit report released Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office.

The report did not name the officer but said he “voluntarily resigned.” The alleged misuse of the credit card was reported in the June 30, 2013 fiscal year end audit of the town by the Donaldsonville office of the Postlehwaite and Netterville accounting firm.

“The town’s credit card was being used for personal fuel purchases,” the report said. The incident was investigated by the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office, the former police officer was charged and Gramercy officials are seeking restitution but the amount has not been determined, the report said.

“Although there were controls in place, certain other procedures that could help to mitigate this weakness were not being performed,” auditors said.

In a response to the findings, Gramercy Town Clerk Lydia Louque said officials have “identified the weakness” and have made changes to its fuel-purchasing system. She said some of those changes include lowering the credit limits on use of credit cards, “immediate e-mail notification to town management from the fuel card company if a credit limit is reached,” budgeting for a GPS to be installed in town police vehicles “to track locations and better manage fuel and maintenance on vehicles.”

Town officials will promptly review monthly fuel statements, Louque said.

Auditors also said that internal control procedures should be better documented. Louque said in the town’s response that Gramercy officials will identify “significant risk areas and will document internal controls related to the specific risk.”