THOMAS MCALLISTER: "That doesn't establish that I knew how the money was being distributed."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Did you communicate with Sheriff Voss about the payments?"
THOMAS MCALLISTER: "We discussed department matters."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Did you discuss the diner incident?"
McAllister looked at his attorney.
His attorney leaned forward.
ATTORNEY: "My client will not answer questions about communications that may be protected."
Rebecca made a note.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Did you tell Sheriff Voss to prevent officers from cooperating with federal investigators?"
THOMAS MCALLISTER: "Absolutely not."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Did you advise him to keep the incident contained?"
McAllister remained silent.
The interview continued.
Investigators presented a message exchange between McAllister and Voss from the day of the arrest.
One message referred to keeping everyone consistent.
Another warned that the old files could become a problem if federal investigators began examining Northbridge.
McAllister's attorney objected to the interpretation.
The investigators did not argue.
They simply added the messages to the record.
***
The county commissioner eventually announced that Voss would be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The announcement was made at a short press conference outside the county administration building.
The commissioner stood behind a row of microphones.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER: "The county has a responsibility to cooperate with all lawful investigations. Sheriff Dalton Voss will be placed on administrative leave while the relevant matters are reviewed. This decision is not a finding of guilt. It is intended to protect the integrity of the process."
A reporter asked whether the county had known about the financial allegations before the diner incident.
The commissioner looked uncomfortable.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER: "We are reviewing the information available to us."
Another reporter asked whether the county would suspend Northbridge contracts.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER: "All contracts currently under review will be examined by independent counsel."
The announcement did not satisfy everyone.
Residents wanted answers.
Former detainees wanted their complaints reopened.
Business owners wanted to know whether the county had used public contracts to reward people connected to the sheriff.
But the announcement marked a significant change.
For the first time in years, Voss was no longer directing the department.
***
A temporary acting sheriff was appointed.
His name was Captain Robert Hayes, a career officer who had worked in the county for more than twenty years.
He had not been part of the Northbridge arrangements, but he knew the department's internal culture was deeply damaged.
On his first day, he met with the federal investigative team.
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "I want to cooperate. But I need to understand what records you believe may be missing."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "We have identified discrepancies in evidence transfers, asset forfeiture accounts, and complaint records."
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "Do you have specific locations?"
Rebecca handed him a list.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "These are the records we need preserved. We also need access to the off-site storage facility used by the department."
Hayes looked at the page.
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "I know the facility."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Do you know what is stored there?"
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "Not everything. It was used for overflow property and equipment."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "We have reason to believe some items were transferred there without proper documentation."
Hayes looked up.
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "Then we should inspect it."
***
The storage facility stood on the edge of an industrial area outside town.
It was a low concrete building with a metal security gate and several loading bays.
Federal investigators arrived with the acting sheriff and a property records specialist.
Inside, they found shelves of old equipment, filing cabinets, boxes of paperwork, and several containers that had no visible labels.
The property specialist began comparing the inventory list with the actual contents.
Some boxes were exactly where the records said they should be.
Others were not.
One cabinet contained seized property receipts dating back several years.
Another held copies of traffic stop reports that had not been included in the official database.
A third contained financial documents connected to Northbridge.
Rebecca examined the labels.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "These records were not listed in the current inventory."
PROPERTY SPECIALIST: "No. They should have been transferred to the county archive."
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "Who authorized the storage?"
The specialist checked the paperwork.
PROPERTY SPECIALIST: "Several transfers carry the sheriff's office administrative approval."
Rebecca photographed the documents.
The team continued through the facility.
At the rear of the building, they discovered a locked cabinet containing sealed envelopes and a collection of old complaint files.
The envelopes included names of residents who had submitted allegations against deputies.
Several had handwritten notes attached.
One read:
"Do not reopen without command approval."
Another said:
"Hold pending review."
A third had no date or signature.
Rebecca looked toward Hayes.
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Who had access to this cabinet?"
Hayes studied the lock.
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "The sheriff, the property supervisor, and certain administrative personnel."
SPECIAL AGENT REBECCA SHAW: "Then we need the access records."
Hayes nodded.
CAPTAIN ROBERT HAYES: "I'll have them preserved."
***