Fitzpatrick to audit Bellflower Fire Protection District after sheriff’s office request

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s Office announced in a Friday press release that the Bellflower Fire Protection District in Montgomery County will be audited after a request from law enforcement was made.

The release says the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office “raised concerns about possible inappropriate purchases and fuel cards being used to purchase fuel for personal vehicles.”

The release says the auditor’s office did an initial review to determine if the complaints were credible “and identified several issues that potentially constitute improper government activity.”

"We appreciate the efforts of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the work they did to investigate the issues with the Bellflower Fire Protection District and bring them to our attention. Our own investigation identified potential issues with the misuse of district fuel cards as well as purchases that appear to be personal in nature. Our audit will now delve deeply into the operations of the district as we work to uncover any possible waste, fraud, or abuse," Fitzpatrick is quoted in the release.