Sheriff investigation could take months
An investigation into the office of Putnam County Sheriff Mark Frisbie is expected to take months, according to the lead investigator.
Sgt. Tom McKee of the Lafayette post of the Indiana State Police told the BannerGraphic on Tuesday that he is just getting started on the case, but he has been in Putnam County to work on the case.
"I've been there once a week for the last three weeks," McKee said, "and it's not something that's going to be over any time soon. And unfortunately, I can't say anything about it."
The sheriff's department received an unfavorable audit by the State Board of Accounts, which questioned payment of claims that were unsupported by receipts.
McKee took on the case after Putnam County Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter sent a letter to Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell asking him to open an investigation of Frisbie to determine whether any of the findings in the audit were the result of "criminal wrongdoing."
The sheriff's department has also endured federal scrutiny after an employee of the sheriff's department was arrested and charge with misappropriation of federal grant money.
Prosecutor Bookwalter told the BannerGraphic that he has requested a special prosecutor outside Putnam County to take on the case. He expects to receive word on that request in the near future.