The Shadow
The arrest of the City of Covington’s Treasurer by the Virginia State Police on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, for three counts of felony counts of possession narcotics and one misdemeanor count of divulging confidential tax information, is a serious matter and Covington City Council has taken steps to alleviate any concerns the public may have as it relates to public funds. Specifically, after calling an emergency special called meeting on Tuesday evening at 7:30 p.m., the City Council, in accordance with the Chapter 5, Section 5.021 of the Covington City Charter, formally adopted an ordinance to transfer operational authority from the Treasurer to the Director of Finance.
All operations at the City Treasurer’s Office will continue as normal and all Treasurer Office staff will remain to perform the daily operations of the office. It is City Council’s intention to continue this shift in operational control over that office until such time as the legal process has reached a formal conclusion and/or a new Treasurer is elected by the citizens of the City of Covington.
This action was not taken lightly, nor was it taken without thorough discussion with the City’s legal and financial professionals. The Virginia Auditor of Accounts has recommended that the City perform a forensic audit, which will be done over the coming weeks. The City wishes to assure the public that it will do everything it can to assuage any concerns the public may have regarding control of public funds during this difficult time.
No further statement will be made by the City or Council on this matter.
Mark C. Popovich
City Attorney
