Mayor says audit overstates off‑duty overtime; police chief says changes and vendor will fix controls

Mayor Hartwick and North Little Rock Police officials addressed a recent audit and a mayoral press statement asserting discrepancies in off‑duty overtime accounting.

At a council meeting, Mayor Hartwick said the administration reviewed the audit after it drew press attention and that the $500,000 figure reported publicly was inaccurate. “I believe in my police chief. I believe in my policeman,” the mayor said while disputing the larger number and promising a forthcoming press release explaining the city’s findings. Police Chief Hayward Finks told council the audit narrowed the concern: “Through the audit, the actual discrepancy came down to around 12 working hours, I believe,” and said he has met a vendor who can implement the audit recommendations. Chief Finks said he scheduled a meeting with his command staff and the finance director and will propose a vendor‑backed solution to the mayor after that meeting.

Council members asked whether businesses that hire off‑duty officers will be required to independently verify attendance before invoices are processed. Chief Finks said the vendor under consideration would provide verification and automate recommended controls. Council members and staff also said the difference mainly arose from a mismatch between the rate charged to businesses and the rate paid to officers; the administration said that rate mismatch has been corrected.

The council moved to accept and file the communications containing the audit and the mayor’s statement. The city said it will follow up with more detail and a press release summarizing the audit’s corrective actions.