MONROE, Mich. (WXYZ) — 7 Action News has learned a months-long investigation into the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is continuing today. At issue are tens of thousands of dollars in federal Homeland Security grants to put more cops on the streets.
A letter from Michigan State Police to Monroe County Sheriff Dale Malone from October 22, 2019, states the feds notified MSP of “an allegation of misappropriated OPSG funding.”
Operation Stonegarden grants are given through the federal Office of Homeland Security.
The letter goes on to say for Monroe to get reimbursements in grants effective immediately they must provide a completed daily activity report, an overtime log including names, dates, and hours worked and a certification letter signed by the sheriff.
A spokesman for Michigan State Police would not say if the ongoing investigation is administrative or criminal. Sources say this could involve several inside the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.
We were told Sheriff Malone was not available today.
Operation Stonegarden grants are given to border states with Canada and Mexico to enhance security with local police agencies. In Michigan the grants are funneled through MSP. In 2018, the amount of these grants available nationally was $85 million.
We will stay on this case.
Monroe Grant Money by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit on Scribd
