Attorney Tim Stoesz has requested Hamilton County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham to appoint a Special Prosecutor to review the Indiana State Police Investigation into the Treasurer’s Office.
Stoesz is now calling for Prosecutor Buckingham to release the full investigative report regarding allegations of late property tax penalties being waived by Treasurer’s Office employees.
Stoesz
Stoesz believes the public should have the opportunity to view the investigation and that Prosecutor Buckingham, an elected official, should not be permitted to investigate another elected county official.
“There is an inherent conflict of interest when one elected Hamilton County official investigates another elected Hamilton County official,” said Stoesz.
The Hamilton County Commissioners have said from the onset that the county has attempted to avoid an appearance of conflict of interest.
“That is why we asked the State Police to conduct the investigation rather than the Sheriff’s Department,” said Commissioner Steve Dillinger. “I trust Lee Buckingham will make the right decision in this case regarding the need for a Special Prosecutor.”
Buckingham has not responded to the Reporter’s requests for comment regarding the State Police investigation and Stoesz’s demand for a Special Prosecutor.
Separate from the State Police investigation, former Hamilton County Treasurer’s Office employee Susan Byer has filed a lawsuit in Hamilton County Superior Court 1. Byer’s suit alleges she was unjustly terminated, and the action was in retaliation for the confrontation with Kim Good over Good posting family members’ payments as on time when they were in fact late.
Stoesz represents Byer in the suit.
On Thursday, the Indianapolis Star reported Treasurer’s Office employees saying the office was fraught with paranoia.
“There is a lot of media attention on this and there is probably a lot of finger pointing,” said Dillinger. “The entire office is in upheaval. I don’t like that and it needs to be fixed.”