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 Issues about the fund were raised during a review of the police department by the county Office of Finance, County Executive Christopher A. Coons' office said in a statement late Monday. The statement was issued after The News Journal asked questions about McAllister's status.

 McAllister agreed to go on paid leave during the investigation because the chief has a role in administering the fund as well as overseeing internal affairs investigations, the statement said.

 Coons plans to introduce legislation in County Council tonight "to correct some of the deficiencies of past practices" involving the fund, according to the statement.

 A report will be made to County Council at the end of the probe, the statement said. County spokeswoman Allison Taylor Levine, who released the statement, said officials don't know how long the investigation might take.

 Lt. Col. Scott McLaren -- who served as acting chief when McAllister was on vacation earlier this month -- was appointed acting chief during the investigation.

 McAllister, a former lieutenant sworn in as chief in October 2003, continues to receive his salary of $128,476 a year.

He referred questions Monday evening to his attorney, Claire DeMatteis.

 "There's no allegations that Chief McAllister did anything wrong," DeMatteis said. "Let's let the facts play out."

 She said McAllister raised questions about the department's long-standing procedure for off-duty job pay well before finance officials began their examination. "He was told, 'This is how it's always been done,' " DeMatteis said.

 DeMatteis also said there was more to his agreeing to paid leave than county officials said: "Col. McAllister did not want the county targeting individual officers who have worked these jobs, so he agreed that he would go on administrative leave while a thorough investigation is carried out."

 Under the existing practice, individuals and groups who hire off-duty officers -- for jobs from directing after-church traffic to patrolling festival crowds -- write checks to a fund that subsequently pays the officers, but leaves it to them to declare the income on their taxes.

 "If there are changes that need to be made, Dave will be the first one to carry them out," DeMatteis said.

 County officials would not say whether or how the issues prompting McAllister's leave might be linked to a federal investigation of former County Executive Tom Gordon and former top aide Sherry Freebery, both former county police chiefs who have pleaded not guilty to racketeering and other charges.

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 05/20/2005 - The officer in charge of the Leland Police SWAT Team is under arrest and has now been moved to a different jail for his protection. Police Commander Brett Hobbs surrendered to authorities early Thursday afternoon to face drug charges.

 The State Bureau of Investigation booked Hobbs at the Brunswick County Jail. The charges involve making and dealing crack cocaine and lying to authorities.

 Hobbs was moved to the Central Prison in Raleigh to protect his safety. He is commander of the Leland Police SWAT Team. He is also the son of Leland Mayor Pro Tem Gordon Hobbs.

The district attorney's office says it has been investigating this drug ring for years.
 
 Hobbs' bond is set at $500,000. At least seven others have been indicted in this drug ring. If Hobbs is convicted, he faces a minimum 14-year mandatory jail sentence.

Right now, he remains on the force but has been taken off the street. Leland's town manager issued a statement Thursday saying Hobbs has a right to due process.

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 09/16/04 -- A Delaware officer has been charged with harassing a teenage girl.

 Master Corporal Douglas Baylor is accused of trying to force his way into the 16-year-old girl's car last month as she was trying to leave a pizzeria parking lot.

The girl honked her horn several times until Baylor got into his car and left.

 Baylor was arrested Tuesday night and charged with unlawful imprisonment and harassment.

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Officers Involved: L. Aaron Chaffinch

Location: Delaware

  4/29/2004 -- The lawyer for a Delaware State Police captain who filed internal misconduct charges against state police Superintendent Col. L. Aaron Chaffinch was furious upon learning that three of the allegations would not be investigated. In a related matter, the president of the Delaware State Troopers Association warned that protections in the Law Enforcement Officers' Bill of Rights could be waived if troopers participate in the investigation. "These are the allegations of the crimes of perjury and official misconduct,'' attorney Thomas S. Neuberger said." The state has now stated that it does not want to investigate crimes reported by an experienced state police captain. "This is an outrageous cover-up and whitewash of the powerful who think they are above the law. It is a double standard.'' Mr. Neuberger represents state police training director Capt. Gregory A. Warren. The captain filed internal charges against the colonel and Deputy Superintendent Lt. Col. Thomas F. MacLeish earlier this month. Internal charges are normally handled by the state police internal affairs section, but at the direction of Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security James L. Ford Jr., a private firm - Hyden Associates - is investigating. Capt. Warren also has a job discrimination lawsuit against Col. Chaffinch and Gov. Ruth Ann Minner pending in federal court.