A state agency has been called in to investigate some questionable purchases made through the Alexandria Police Department.
In late fall of 2020, staff from the Alexandria Police Department learned of several questionable items that were purchased with funds from the police department’s budget. These purchases triggered a series of financial and asset inquiries by the city, according to Sara Stadtherr, the city’s communications coordinator who issued a news release Wednesday, May 5.
As a result of the inquiries, it was determined that some of these purchases could not be explained by current staff, the news release said.
“City officials have no reason to believe this is an ongoing problem because the transactions in question are in the past and are not associated with a current employee, vendor, or other person or entity that has a continuing relationship with the city,” the news release stated.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was asked to investigate these transactions. The information was then turned over to the BCA.
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To preserve the integrity of this active and ongoing BCA investigation, the city cannot comment on it further at this time, Stadtherr said.
The Echo Press contacted the BCA to obtain more information and received this response from Bruce Gordon, director of communications: "The BCA is prohibited by law from discussing an open and active investigation."
