Comptroller investigating 'questionable' purchases by Tennessee police chiefs organization
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The state is investigating spending by a nonprofit organization made up of Tennessee’s largest group of law enforcement leadership.
Tennessee’s Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) receives more than half of its funding from the government. The organization is under the state comptroller’s radar for “questionable” purchases — including food, beverages, fuel, and gifts — made between January 2017 and December 2021.
See the Comptroller's Investigative Report below or CLICK HERE.
During that time frame, the state comptroller’s office says TACP made credit card transactions that lacked documentation and/or approvals which totaled nearly $64,000.
Purchases that violated TACP’s purchasing policy included:
- $23,763.74 in food and alcohol at bi-monthly meetings and annual conferences
- $15,217.66 in meals ranging from fast food to upscale restaurants
- $14,411.24 in gifts and gift cards
- $796.57 in gas for personal vehicles
- $9,734.53 in miscellaneous purchases without itemized receipts
The executive director who managed TACP’s day-to-day operations during those five years resigned in March 2022. The state says she had a “potential conflict of interest” since she was simultaneously working as a registered lobbyist for a different nonprofit, and continued working there even after she was asked to stop – a violation of her employment agreement with TACP.
The TACP Executive Board issued the following statement in response to the release of the Tennessee Comptroller’s Report:
Upon discovering potential issues within the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) management, the Board of Directors took swift and immediate action by self-reporting their discoveries and beginning to review the operational and managerial functions and protocols of the association. The Board determined recommended changes that would improve the association’s compliance with not only its own By-laws, but also federal, state and local reporting requirements. To examine and improve the financial soundness of the association, in addition to employing an independent CPA firm to conduct a full audit, TACP hired a finance officer as an association employee. An interim executive director began the process of implementing recommended changes. In November 2022, TACP hired a new full-time executive director who is continuing to execute the recommended changes as well as develop and implement new policies and procedures.
The investigation has been sent to the DA's office.
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