Checks containing private taxpayer information found unsecured on Richmond employees’ desks

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The City of Richmond’s Department of Finance is under scrutiny once again after an employee desk sweep uncovered dozens of unprotected checks. This following a wave of transparency issues concerning city hall.

While some are guilty of hoarding empty water bottles or soda cans on our desks at work, clutter becomes a bigger deal when peoples’ private information is on the line.

“Our policy is that your desk must be clean, period,” said Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney at a press event Tuesday.

This stern reminder comes after a recent audit revealed employees with the City of Richmond’s Department of Finance left about 30 taxpayer checks unprotected on their desks.

“Residents trust us — have entrusted us with their information and our protecting of this information remains our top priority,” Mayor Stoney explained.

This privacy violation magnified already-heightening concerns of transparency and distrust in Richmond. Just a few weeks ago, 8News learned the City suspended five employees’ purchasing cards .

“As someone told me a long time ago, ‘the biggest room in City Hall is room for improvement’,” Stoney said.

The Richmond leader clarified that this recent issue involves just about 30 checks out of 71,000 checks processed at City Hall each year. However, he added that, even though this represents just .04% of all checks, that’s .04% too many.

“I cannot speak to disciplinary actions because those will be filed under personnel matters,” Stoney said when asked about consequences for the involved employees. “But I will tell you this: if you are an individual who was employed by the city registry and you are not meeting that standard, you will be held accountable.”

He added that the City of Richmond’s Department of Finance reached out to the businesses and taxpayers impacted. The mayor said his team will work with each party involved to make sure everything is in order and resolved.

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