Where's the $8,000?

Who was asleep at the switch, who was overseeing the switch, why does the sheriff's office need a nearly $8,000 "petty cash" fund, how did that much money come up missing and why is it taking more than a year to get to the bottom of the issues?

Such are only a few of the questions surrounding nearly $8,000 that has come up missing after an audit of drug forfeiture money in the Wood County Sheriff's Office in fiscal 2008.

According to the state Auditor's Office the money was kept in a "petty cash" fund in the sheriff's office evidence room during the term of previous sheriff Ken Merritt, which would appear to be in violation of state code.

A log book showing activity in the fund had the last entry listed as Jan. 6, 2005, with nearly $8,000 present.

So, what happened to the money, why was it kept so haphazardly and why would the sheriff's office need such a large sum of "petty cash?" Makes one wonder what else was left out for anyone and everyone to dip into.

Sheriff Jeff Sandy says steps have been taken under his watch to tighten procedures, which it certainly sounds like were definitely needed. As far as the missing money goes, "The investigation is ongoing, led by West Virginia State Police and detectives from Vienna and Parkersburg police departments," Sandy has said.

So, how much longer will the investigation take?