Officials say trooper meal receipts incomplete

Saturday, July 23rd 2005, 7:34 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers ate more than $41,000 worth of food at taxpayer expense last year, and authorities said many trooper receipts did not include the detailed expense sheets required by law, according to a published report.

Of 30 meal receipts that were reviewed, none provided more detail than the total amount charged, The Oklahoman reported in a copyright story in Sunday's editions.

``This isn't going to be acceptable,'' said Kevin Ward, commissioner of the state Department of Public Safety. Ward said he will ask for an investigation and a performance audit to find out what went wrong.

Purchase cards are issued to 125 DPS workers, but most of the meal expenses were incurred by the 25 troopers assigned to the executive security detail who guard Gov. Brad Henry, members of Henry's family and Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin.

Meal and hotel charges were prohibited when the cards were introduced in 2001. But DPS was granted an exemption two years ago to use the cards for troopers assigned to the executive security detail or when troopers participate in manhunts.

The Oklahoman reported that trooper meal charges ranged from a $2 snack at the state Capitol deli to $183 meals at high-end restaurants. Many trooper food purchases were made in Oklahoma City and some meals during trooper travel appeared excessive for one person. General policy allows only purchases by and for the cardholder.

Thirty meals costing more than $100 each were charged during the fiscal year that ended June 30. The meals totaled $3,968 and no detailed receipts were turned in with the expense forms.

Troopers on executive security detail charged ``travel-related'' meals 78 times at a deli in the basement of the state Capitol two floors below the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. The meals totaled $375.

Another 505 charges totaling $4,200 were made at restaurants within five miles of the Capitol Patrol's headquarters in Oklahoma City. At Ruth's Chris Steak Houses, troopers charged 11 meals totaling $1,134.

On Feb. 23, three troopers doing advance work for a visit by Henry to Washington, D.C., spent a combined $321 at a Ruth's Chris Steak House there. Shown the receipts, Henry was upset that the troopers chose to eat at the restaurant and provided no detailed receipts.

``They've got to keep better documentation than that,'' Henry said.

Although the three were dining on their own, the expenses were approved by Charles Weeks, captain of the executive security team. Weeks called the instance a case of ``bad judgment.''

Weeks said he signed off on the purchases because he did not notice notes on the logs indicating the men were doing advance work.

Weeks said troopers must eat at expensive restaurants when officials dine there and do not have a choice of where to eat.

Ward said troopers told him they use the cards to buy meals on out-of-state trips for local officers who help protect Oklahoma officials. But neither purchase card policies nor DPS exemptions support the practice.

On at least six occasions, records show troopers each charged meals for themselves costing between $107 and $140 without claims of buying meals for other officers.

Henry said the purchase cards will be subjected to more scrutiny and that he will investigate whether the state needs a cap on daily expenses.

``These cards ought to be audited. These purchases ought to be audited,'' Henry said.