Thousands Missing After Students Raise Money For Athletic Program
DENVER (CBS4)- Thousands of dollars vanished from a Denver Public School athletics program. Denver police were brought in to investigate. The school district said they found no evidence of fraud or theft on the part of a school employee, but the money is still missing.
Parents are very upset.
"This is their way out," said a mom who doesn't want to be identified. "This is their key to get into (college) school."
She said the community should know the money is missing from the Far Northeast Regional Athletic Division within DPS.
She said parents work hard to raise money for their kid's and the sports they play here because it's a struggling community, "People struggle to pay a $10 pay to play fee."
When this mom learned from coaches and parents that money raised by parents and kids was missing, possibly stolen, she got mad.
"It's just the kids that get the short end of the stick," said the mom.
Denver Public Schools said in October 2015, two employees of the Far Northeast Athletic Division called the district saying $4,000 in cash was stolen off a desk in the office. Those employees were the athletic director and his assistant.
As Denver police began a criminal investigation, the district did their own digging according to DPS spokesperson Will Jones.
"At first glance, it appeared if they had been following strict policy on the money, that money would not have gone missing," said Jones.
As police wrapped up their investigation, the district said, the athletic director and assistant resigned. No criminal charges have been filed against any employee.
Jones said, "That $4,000 is gone and we don't know where it is."
Parents still have a lot of concerns, "If it's our money, how does the program gets the money back?"
The school district says there are lessons learned. They're now implementing additional safety controls at the far northeast office, including more training and oversight for the new athletic director who is yet to be hired.
Jennifer Brice is a reporter with CBS4 focusing on crime and courts. Follow her on Facebook or on Twitter @CBS4Jenn.
