CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts has established the Department of Inspector General to improve transparency and accountability in local government, according to Clerk J.D. Peacock.
"Throughout my campaign, as I met and spoke with the citizens of Okaloosa County, it became apparent to me that they were still concerned about accountability over how the county spends its money," Peacock said.
The new department's mission is to improve the effectiveness of controls and governance processes in Okaloosa County government and to foster public trust by providing independent, comprehensive audits and investigations.
"In this process, the Inspector General Department will work to prevent, detect and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse of Clerk of Courts and County government resources, including Guardianship assets," Peacock said.
Sam Scallan, who has more than 35 years’ experience in auditing local government and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, a master’s in management, and certifications as a certified public accountant, certified internal auditor and certified Fraud examiner, has accepted the position.
One of his first responsibilities will be to seek the certified inspector general designation offered by the Association of Inspectors General. Later, the department will pursue accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa clerk establishes department to boost transparency