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Commissioners review sheriff’s misconduct case, credit‑card controls and insurance recovery
Summary
County officials discussed the recent conviction and sentencing of former Sheriff Brave, the county’s handling of credit‑card use and audits, insurance recovery for misused funds, and resulting operational changes including fewer departmental credit cards and weekly vendor payments.
Several Strafford County officials reviewed the outcome of the investigation and sentencing of former Sheriff Brave, discussed how the county has changed credit‑card controls since the misconduct, and said the county expects insurance recovery for some misused funds.
A county official described the sentencing hearing, noting the attorney general referenced numerous false statements by the former sheriff during the investigation. The official said investigators concluded some alleged claims were false and that publication of those findings occurred in local reporting and an in‑depth article referenced in the meeting.
Officials described changes to county credit‑card practices after the misconduct: the auditor now reviews every credit‑card transaction; the county has reduced the number of departmental cards; many employees prefer to use personal cards and receive rapid reimbursement; and the county favors vendor invoicing and weekly check runs over ACH or widespread card use. “Our auditor still looks at every single credit card transaction,” a county official said. The transcript records that currently only the sitting sheriff retains a county card and that the county has canceled multiple cards previously issued to other employees.
County leadership told commissioners the county expects an insurance payment to reimburse approximately $18,000–$19,000 in losses and that the insurer may pursue recovery from the former sheriff. Officials said the attorney general’s office withheld some documentation until the plea was finalized and later promised to forward necessary paperwork to the county.
The county also discussed operational details such as vendor relationships that require credit‑card payments and recent use of the Amazon Business account to secure discounts; officials noted vendors often reject invoicing or impose card fees. Commissioners emphasized that county payables continue on a weekly schedule.
Speakers emphasized they did not incur legal fees related to the attorney general's prosecution because the state assumed the investigation and prosecution after the county referred the matter.
