State Auditor Mike Harmon says a review of the Department of Criminal Justice Training and the public fund that supports it has revealed unnecessary and excessive spending along with improper contracts with a public university designed to circumvent state law.
The department provides training to law enforcement officers throughout the state. It is paid for by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund, which is comprised of a 1.8 percent assessment on property and casualty insurance premiums.
Harmon said the assessment was set too high, which led to surpluses in the fund that were used for purposes other than law enforcement needs. He also said the department used a contract with Eastern Kentucky University to get around state procurement laws.
In its official response, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary John Tilley blamed the prior administration.