According to a state audit, the Nebraska State Patrol was operating with 48 vacancies in its sworn ranks and paid more than $3 million in overtime from July 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2016. That amounts to 94,976 hours of overtime.
In addition, the audit revealed the Patrol had a lack of segregation over payroll duties, lack of segregation over capital assets, incorrect asset information and lack of segregation over evidence.
Last week, Col. Brad Rice was removed as the head of the Patrol by Governor Ricketts, but according to a spokesperson, the audit played no part in that decision.
