Ex-Berkley treasurer cleared of criminal wrongdoing in bank account closure. What we know

BERKLEY — The Raynham Police Department has cleared former Berkley treasurer and current tax collector Wendy Cochrane of any criminal wrongdoing after she allegedly closed a town bank account when she was no longer treasurer.

"After investigating the matter at our request, the Raynham Police Department has determined that no criminal activity occurred," Berkley Town Administrator Matthew Chabot and Berkley Selectmen Chair Tabitha McCrohan said in a June 27 written statement.

Back on June 6, Chabot and McCrohan said in a joint statement the town had recently been made aware of an incident involving the sudden closure of a town bank account and the attempted movement of town funds from an account at First Citizens' Federal Credit Union in Raynham. They said the closure was undertaken by the immediate past town treasurer, who was recently defeated for re-election, and whose term had ended — which is Cochrane.

"This individual's legal right to access these types of accounts ended with the swearing in of a new Town Treasurer on May 15," Chabot and McCrohan said back on June 6.

What did the investigation find?

The letter from the investigating Raynham officer Lt. William Donnelly to the town of Berkley states:

"The Town of Berkley ex-Treasurer, Wendy Cochrane, went into the First Citizens Credit Union, at 629 South Street West, Raynham MA 02767, and closed the account her name was listed on. The Account was the Town of Berkley account and she was the sole signatory party. After speaking with the Town of Berkley Administrator, and the parties at First Citizens Credit Union, I found that there was no crime committed In Raynham."

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Cochrane reacts to investigation outcome

"My statement is that I knew that I did nothing wrong," Cochrane told the Taunton Daily Gazette via email. "I asked what my legal action was as the accounts were still in my name 23 days after the election. This was unacceptable. The law says in 10 days."

What happens next

What will Berkley officials do now that Cochrane has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing?

"The Town of Berkley is working with the state Department of Revenue and Division of Local Services to take the proper steps to complete the transfer of Town Treasurers and put in place proper controls needed to ensure the smooth transfer of positions moving forward," Chabot and McCrohan said in the written statement on June 27.

"We're satisfied with the findings," Selectmen Chair Tabitha McCrohan said. But she pointed out that one aspect of the issue is still unresolved. "We're fighting the bank to get full statements on our accounts oddly enough," she said. "But we're taking the best legal routes to achieve this goal."

Dig deeperDid ex-Berkley town treasurer illegally close a town bank account? She says no.

No money was missing

Chabot and McCrohan said back on June 6: "The Town of Berkley wishes to reassure residents that Town funding is safe and accounted for and no funds are reported to be missing at this time. The specific account in question is not used for payroll processing, but closure of the account may temporarily hinder the ability of the Town and the Berkley Public Schools to pay some vendors. As Town officials, we condemn and express our strongest possible disappointment with the situation that unfolded. We pledge a full and transparent investigation into this matter."

How much money was in the account?

A previous email to the Gazette from McCrohan reported that the account had been closed out for about $400,000. But on June 6, McCrohan declined to comment further on the advice of town counsel.

Here's what Wendy Cochrane says happened

Cochrane — who is also a former selectman — told the Gazette via text messages on June 6 that she was told by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue that she had to close out the account. She said the permission came in a telephone call from Bill Arrigal of the Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services to close out the account and turn the money over to the town. When reached via telephone by the Gazette on June 6, Arrigal requested questions be submitted via email but did not respond to the emailed questions.

"It was more than 10 days after the election, and my name was still on the account," she said.