By Eileen Buckley & Drew Fitzpatrick
Buffalo, NY – Erie County's top watch dog is calling on County employees to report any possible waste, fraud or abuse of tax dollars.
County comptroller Mark Poloncarz announced a new tip line and e-mail address to report possible abuse within County government.
Poloncarz says any employee who suspects a case of waste or abuse needs to contact him immediately. The comptroller says his office has already been receiving a number of recent tips and reports that they believe are valid.
"We received a tip from someone in the public about a County employee who was basically punching into work, taking a county a vehicle, then going home, and sitting at home for a couple of hours. We sent our auditors out to watch that employee, this happened last year and that report was true," said Poloncarz.
Poloncarz stressed that these tip lines are anonymous.
"If they feel they are going to be retaliated against, of course they are not going to report to us. But I want them to know they can report it anonymously, even if they don't want to give us their name or if they are a county employee. They can still issue a report so we can investgate it," said Poloncarz.
Those wishing to report suspected waste and abuse via e-mail can write to whistleblower@erie.gov. The telephone number is 716-858-7722.