Mike Harmon, Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts, announced Thursday the findings of a special examination by his office of the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training, and the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund. The report cited 10 findings related to the policies, procedures, and financial activity of DOCJT and KLEFPF, which will be referred to the Executive Branch Ethics Commission. Harmon said multiple management issues were discovered at DOCJT and “questionable spending of KLEFPF funds, which are supposed to pay for training and incentive payments for law enforcement officers.”

The special examination also details concerns about a lack of documentation supporting an insurance surcharge rate increase, which provides funding to the KLEFPF. Since the rate was raised in 2010, more than $56 million has been swept from KLEFPF to the Commonwealth’s General Fund. Representative Denny Butler, who requested the audit, said hope the report helps confirm his desire that the funds go toward their intended purpose, and “illustrates why state budgets should not be balanced on the backs of police officers.”