Anti-Fraud Policy Adopted by Sarasota County

The capstone of Terry Lewis’ reign as interim county administrator was passed without comment Tuesday morning, the third item on a consent agenda. It is a four-page “Sarasota County Government Anti-Fraud Policy.”

It contains all the "do"s and "don’ts" for all county employees to follow. It comes after several middle- and high-ranking county officials lost their jobs, after concerns were raised about county contracts. Lewis was brought in to pick up the pieces.

One county employee is facing jail time, and that is for acts allegedly committed while working for Palm Beach County.

News of the indictment touched off an intensive examination – internally and by outside experts – in how the county conducts business.

The fallout from these probes led to the departure of 14-year-veteran  in May, followed quickly by the county’s chief financial planning officer and deputy county administrator.

Patch asked commissioners about the significance of the new policy, and the quiet passage.

“The consent placement should in no way be construed as to minimize the importance of this step,” Commissioner Jon Thaxton wrote. “It is indeed a critical component of the procurement process correction.”

Government employees since the times of Babylon dread blowing the whistle on superiors, for fear of the backlash. But Sarasota’s new policy makes it clear the whistle should be blown.

“Suspected improprieties concerning an employee’s moral, ethical or behavorial conduct should be reported to the Sarasota County Ethics and Compliance Officer for resolution rather than the Sarasota Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller,” the policy states. “If there is a question as to whether an action constitutes fraud, contact the Sarasota Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller for guidance.”

Soon after Lewis took over the reins from Ley, the former Sheriff’s colonel reached out into the law enforcement community to select the county’s ethics and compliance officer. Steve Uebelacker is a former Florida Department of Law Enforcement officer.   

Whistleblowers will enjoy explicit protection.

“No person who has acted in accordance with the requirements of this policy shall be: dismissed, or threatened with dismissal; disciplined, suspended or threatened with discipline or suspension; penalized, or intimidated or coerced.”

Commissioner Nora Patterson was glad to see that provision made explicit. “To have a written policy that guarantees that there will be no penalty for reporting dishonest activity seems right and the way it should be, stated or not,” she told Patch.

The new policy contains language for consultants, vendors and contractors too. Entities or individuals  “found to have participated in fraudulent activity” could face legal action, either civil or criminal.

“This is one of many steps that the county has taken to remedy our procurement woes,” wrote Thaxton. “The county is simply trying to fix the problem and move on. It is what the public expects of us, and there is no reason to spotlight one component of the comprehensive correction plan.