State Auditor Shad White issued the following statement.
State Auditor Shad White announced today that Richie McCluskey will replace David Huggins as Director of Investigations at the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Huggins resigned from his position shortly after White became State Auditor, and the office is appreciative of his service.
Richie McCluskey comes to the Auditor’s office from a long law enforcement career which began in 1988 at the Flowood Police Department. McCluskey advanced from Patrolman to Chief Investigator at that Department before leaving in 2000 to become the Senior Criminal Investigator of the Public Integrity Division at the Office of the Attorney General State of Mississippi.
In the Public Integrity Division, McCluskey conducted statewide public corruption and white-collar crime investigations and provided assistance to district attorneys and local law enforcement departments. He investigated and retained convictions for crimes such as financial fraud and identity theft. He also co-led the Civil Rights-era cold case which resulted in the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen. In 2009, McCluskey was named Chief Investigator in the Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General’s office, where he conducted criminal investigations involving personal fraud and counterfeit goods.
In 2015, Mr. McCluskey returned to the Flowood Police Department as Chief of Police. He worked extensively with the mayor and board of aldermen there to manage a police budget over $5 Million. In this role, he established a memorandum of understanding with federal authorities to allow joint investigations and sharing of resources, which dramatically improved Flowood police operations. He retired from that position earlier this year. During his career, McCluskey has accumulated over 60 law enforcement qualifications.
Marshall Fisher, Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said, “I applaud State Auditor Shad White’s appointment of Richie McCluskey as his new Director of Investigations. Richie is a respected law enforcement professional who has been an exemplary public servant. I believe his experience, professionalism, and integrity will serve the state of Mississippi well.”
“What attracted me to the State Auditors Office is the leadership and agency’s commitment to staying at the forefront of protecting Mississippi’s taxpayers. The agency has a dedicated team of talented professionals whose mission is protecting the public’s trust by verifying funds provided to state and local governments and are used in a legal and efficient manner for their intended purpose. I look forward to utilizing my experience to support the mission of this team and this office,” said McCluskey.
State Auditor Shad White said, "The Director of Investigations is one of the most critical positions in state government. We searched the state for the right person for this important role, interviewing candidates with a variety of federal and state investigations experience, and we could not have found a better match for the job than Richie McCluskey. Richie is a top-notch, hard-nosed, and fair investigator. He has a proven track record of leading law enforcement entities and handling some of the most complex and difficult cases in Mississippi in recent years. And most importantly to me, he is a man of incredible energy and rock-solid character. We're going to accomplish a lot for the people of Mississippi."
30 comments:
Get 'em, Richie. Proud of you, brother.
Richie is a phenomenal investigator. I am very proud of him and the work he will do for the Auditor's Office!
So glad to see Huggins gone, he was a political hack (what is the status of his felony case by the way?).
McCluskey always seemed fair whenever I dealt with him, but an endorsement from Fisher isn't confidence-inspiring.
Mr. Auditor, you're seeking the f'ing counsel of Marshall Fisher? Do you have an actual brain in your head? Fisher is a total jackbootin' control freak.
Sorry Shad, I'm voting, primary or general, for whomever is opposing you. You're not ready for prime time.
I'm just glad the sitting governor did not make this decision. Just sit still for a second and imagine who might have been appointed to lead investigations?
Another misleading KF headline. Shad did not 'make a change'. Huggins resigned when Shad got the job, months ago.
This guy sounds like a sharp criminal investigator. Somehow people have over looked the fact that this office is for auditing, not chasing murderers and drug dealers. I read nothing that indicates this guy has ever audited anything, including his own check register.
More republicans duplicating more government services.
So, 3:49, to be I follow your logic, you're not going to vote for Mr. White because you have a hard-on for Mr. Fisher? And you're prepared to vote for someone whose name you can't even recite? Gotcha!
4:57, times 10 for the actual state auditor.
I have known Richie for many years and have no doubt that he will do an excellent job. Congratulations Brother.
I guess Shad needs a Hood alum on staff.
4:42 - How do you know the Governor did not make this decision? Phil is neck deep in Rankin County and Flowood. He lives in the area.
5:33 Fisher is an imbecile. Thank goodness I can still get a quality woody going. You obviously went limp long ago.
I always assumed there were a few pervs on this site. Now, it is confirmed as some posters talk about their ability to get erections (with help from viagra I presume).
4:57 , I guess you missed the part of his background where he conducted public corruption and white collar crime investigations. And where he was head of the Consumer Protection Division of the AG.
But, obviously based on your closing comments, you choose to skip any parts of an article that doesn't support your predetermined political position.
Huggins didn't leave upon White's appointment, but very shortly thereafter when he found out he was not going to be allowed to stay on the state payroll at $100k/year plus adding more and more years to his PERS account, while sitting at home on his ass as he has done for the past couple of years on 'assigned leave'.
He was nothing but a hack anyway, that tried to have his own fiefdom in the SA office by threatening all that came close to him with the power of his badge. Glad he is gone - don't know this new guy, but it has to be a major improvement.
I have read more about Shad White than Phil, Delbert, Cindy H-S and any other MS politic combined. I hope this is not a sign of what is to come!
Being in charge of the consumer protection division of the AG office has nothing to do with auditing. At all. Just another politico.
@ October 1 4:57pm - Actually when Richie was at the AG's office most of his cases were complex financial crimes. I know this because I worked with him on many of them.
Bryant has it in his mind that his Rankin County base had made him the new Mississippi Republican Kingmaker. He's told White that his own path was Auditor->Lt Gov->Gov.
Former employee for both Mike Moore and Jim Hood and Gary Rhodes! NW Rankin graduate! 60 certifications! - seems like Mike and Jim sent him on a lot of junkets at taxpayer expense. What about college experience?
This guy has done more in the Auditor's office in a few months than we've seen in a decade.
So an old guy retired, probably out of anger that a young whipper'snapper was going to be his boss.
Most of you folks will bitch about anything.
The "I'm voting for anyone other than Shad" comment is hilarious, as if you would actually vote for him in the first place. Tell Espy and Hood hello for me.
Telling that none of the MSGOP Kool-aid drinkers here defends Marshall Fisher.
457, he was not hired as an auditor. He is the head of 'investigations' - a separate and distinct operation from the audit division of the SA office. I'm sure if he needs help with balancing his checkbook as you claim, he can get on of the folks in the other division to help him.
9:35 - Please tell us more about this 'sitting at home on his ass on assigned leave for the past couple of years'. I for one have never heard of such a personnel action/strategy. Please tell us what the hell you're talking about.
State Auditor did not 'make a change'. Employee resigned and job was summarily filled. The resigning employee initiated the change himself.
We know Phil wasn't involved in this guy's selection because the new incumbent is not associated with Southern Miss, doesn't drive an old truck and wear cowboy boots and doesn't claim to be a fifth generation farmer.
Anon 8:25, Who is Gary Rhodes ? or did you mean Gary Rhoads ?
Hey, 3:49, you can go ahead and prepare your anus to vote for Shad White's opponent many, many, many more times. This kid is headed for big things.
11:34...It could be Jerry Roads, but what the hell difference do it make? We new who he meant and you did two.
Ditto, 12:29. Shad is shakin' and bakin' and I hope he doesn't slow down.
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