Pine Bluff's parks department couldn't trace $179,629 in cash receipts; no one charged
Arkansas Legislative Audit's 2024 audit of the City of Pine Bluff found $179,629 in manual Parks and Recreation receipts, from Jan. 1, 2023 to May 21, 2025, that could not be traced to the city collector's receipts and deposits, plus $48,415 in unallowable purchases, altered invoices and three missing lawnmowers. The 2024 officeholders listed include then-Mayor Shirley Washington and then-Parks Director Trudy Redus. Two parks employees were fired in May 2025 and the Jefferson County prosecutor asked Arkansas State Police to investigate. At a March 13, 2026 Joint Auditing Committee hearing, chair Rep. Robin Lundstrum called it theft; the committee referred the department to the prosecutor and the attorney general. Mayor Vivian Flowers, in office since January 2025, ordered a forensic audit and said the matter remains under State Police investigation. No charges have been reported.
It’s plain old theft if people in trusted positions stole from the city of Pine Bluff.
Earlier action was taken on May 23, 2025, when two Parks and Recreation employees were terminated.
Mayor Flowers said the activity predated her term and that a forensic audit and new procedures are under way.
Not yet contacted for this story.
No outcome recorded yet.