As reported in a variety of news agencies, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office served a search warrant on October 4, 2011, for the documents located at the Patton Village City Hall and police Department, because of misappropriation of funds.  As it's estimated to take several months to sort out through forensic analysis, the biggest losers in this scenario is the residents and people who rely on the government there.

What could have prevented this?  Any number of things could have potentially kept it from going this far, from an outside auditor, regular oversight by a trained accounting professional, or more checks and balances.  Whether the determining outcome is a positive one for the town council or a negative one for those who controlled the finances, it will leave a permanent mark for quite some time on those who choose to do business with the municipality.

Relationships and trust is what drive business today, and it's hopeful that this will end with a positive outcome.  However, again the residents are the ones who are at a loss right now, who are faced with the decision as to whether or not they made the right one when they voted in their public officers.

It happens on a large scale and a small scale on a regular basis across the country, but everyone needs to be held accountable in the end regardless of the outcome.  The purpose of outside oversight is making sure that there is accountability, because misuse of public funds can potentially result in a loss of freedom, so you have to ask yourself is it really worth it to go down that road.