By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — A Salisbury Police Department evidence custodian has been fired after an investigation “revealed procedural and policy violations,” Chief Rory Collins said today in a press release.
Jeffrey Emerson was placed on leave May 27 during an investigation into “allegations of cash accounting irregularities within the department’s evidence storage area,” the press release said.
The release states that an internal audit and investigation took place after Emerson was placed on leave. The review was conducted by authorities from outside the Salisbury Police Department.
In the statement, Collins wrote that the investigation “revealed procedural and policy violations.”
“As a result of these findings, Mr. Emerson’s employment with the Salisbury Police Department has been terminated,” Collins wrote.
An SBI investigation to determine whether there was any criminal wrongdoing in the case is ongoing, Collins said. That investigation was requested by Collins and Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook.
Collins has previously declined to discuss the amount of money missing.
Emerson had been a civilian employee at the department since 1997. He was appointed to an evidence custodian position in 2006.
Collins said in the press release he would not comment further on the matter at this time.