An employee of Montgomery County’s Office of the County Attorney violated county policies by using a county vehicle for personal trips, routinely taking it home without authorization, and failing to properly report a collision, according to findings released September 14 by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
The employee resigned from county employment at the conclusion of the investigation, according to the OIG.
Investigators found that the employee failed to obtain director approval to use the vehicle, used it for multiple personal trips, inappropriately took it home on a routine basis, and did not properly report the accident to their supervisor.
The investigation also examined allegations involving work-related travel, the use of a messaging application to avoid Maryland Public Information Act requirements, and whether the employee had been under the influence of alcohol during the accident or received help covering it up.
The OIG did not substantiate allegations that the employee was under the influence of alcohol or instructed a Montgomery County Police Department executive to use a messaging application to avoid public information requirements. Investigators also found no evidence of an attempt to cover up the accident.
A review of the employee’s work-related travel during fiscal years 2024 through 2026 found that all trips received appropriate approval and were reasonably related to the employee’s job responsibilities. However, not all trips were documented in the county’s online travel tracking system.
The OIG provided its report to the county’s Chief Administrative Officer and County Attorney for any action they deem appropriate. The employee was not identified in the news release and the full report can be seen here.
