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City, N.D. – A weeks long Bureau of Criminal Investigation has cleared former Valley City Police Chief Dean Ross of any city allegations of criminal activity tied to the misappropriation of public funds under his tenure as city police chief.

The Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office Report Decline said, that Special BCI agent Scott Kraft investigated the sale of two pickups; the sale of several squad video camera systems; the retention of certain fees paid by the public; the deposit of donations to the police department; and the use of the CounterAct, Awareness, and Block Grant accounts.

Kraft found nothing criminal in the transactions and all the money was accounted following his investigation.

Cass County Prosecutor Cherie Clark says although some of Ross’s actions were unusual and likely not compliant with generally accepted accounting practices, nothing shows that they were criminal. Indeed, no evidence proves that Ross disposed of, used, or transferred funds in a manner he knew was not authorized and knew involved a risk of loss. A criminal charge, accordingly, is not appropriate, nor provable beyond a reasonable doubt.

Dean Ross told newsdakota.com that he’s happy that the marathon investigation is over and that he has been cleared of any wrong doing. Ross said, it’s time to put the past in the rear view mirror and look to the future of Valley City in the years ahead.

Ross had an answer to the question of questionable accounting practices in the BCI report. Ross said, most of those practices were in place long before he took over as police chief and as the report shows he simply continued those accounting practices until the investigation was ordered by the city. 

Valley City Attorney Russell Myhre said, “the BCI report recommending that no criminal charges will be brought against the former city chief of police was an appropriate disposition of this case.” Myhre said, “it is time for the city to move on and focus on more pressing issues like the city’s budget and flood control issues.”

Myhre said, “this case was never about whether the former police chief had acted criminally by having a slush fund of approximately $49,000, of which almost $30,000 in cash was kept in a safe in his office. He said, just because a course of action does not violate criminal law doesn’t mean that it is not civilly or ethically wrong.”

Myhre said, “No city department head should ever have access to $49,000 in cash that is run outside of the city’s regular budgeting process, without any accountability whatsoever to the city or its citizens.”

Myhre said, “the agreement between the city and Ross also called for the $49,000 to be returned to the city because the money belonged to the city.” Myhre said the fact the money was returned to the city shows the city was justified in proceeding with the action that lead to Ross’s retirement settlement with the city.

Ross said, he was disappointed in the cities response. He said, “where does this stop? I am tired of the negativity and the citizens are also tired of it. H said, the comments are groundless and do not serve any purpose. It is untrue and he (Myhre) knows that it is untrue.”

He said, “the settlement agreement that the city and I signed  and the city and CounterAct entered into specifically resolved all issues. They are public documents and everybody should read them and draw their own conclusions.”

Ross said, “one of the terms in the settlement is that neither the city nor I disparage or (discredit) the other. It’s time to abide by that agreement. it does not make any sense to engage in throwing mud. Ross said, our city needs the negative sentiment to go away. He said, the time to start in now. It is time to move forward and solve problems, not create them.”

it’s time to put this issue to rest and move forward to help resolve any difference that continue to divide the city over this 7 month long dispute.

Ross was suspended as police chief in September amid allegations he mishandled public money, an accusation he disputed. The city dropped its allegations when Ross stepped down later that month with a retirement settlement with the city.

Ross is officially a candidate to run for mayor against Bob Werkhoven in the upcoming recall election on January 24.