PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – The Plattsburgh Police Department is under investigation.
The Common Council quietly approved the investigation last week in a reversal of a previous decision rejecting an investigation into allegations of corruption and fraud.
Mayor Wendell Hughes says the council approved an agreement with a consulting firm and attorney to look into accusations made against the police department and city officials.
It’s connected to an email penned by a councilor last fall that included allegations including misuse of a city-owned vehicle and cellphone, doctored time sheets and not following up on investigations.
I asked Mayor Hughes why there wasn’t a public announcement about the investigation like the one proposed by the former mayor.
“I mean how do you say we are going to go look at everything in the public. It makes it kind of hard, I think. I did what I think was best and, again, this is going to be independent. I don’t have control over the direction it’s going to go and that’s what it needs to be,” said Hughes, D-Plattsburgh.
Hughes says there’s no clear timeline for the investigation or when findings will come back to the council.
He says he isn’t sure how much money the city will dedicate toward this investigation or whether an amount was listed in the agreement.
