JACKSON- The State Auditor’s Office has issued a demand against DPS official Byron Thompson in the amount of $6,565.71 to the State of Mississippi following an investigation by the State Auditor’s Office into his personal use of a state-owned vehicle.

Thompson, Search and Rescue Coordinator for the Mississippi Homeland Security, used a state vehicle for personal use between August 2009– May 2010.

“State owned vehicles are to be used for official state business and not personal use,” said State Auditor Stacey Pickering. “Personal use is different than traveling in a state car to a meeting, convention or to the office.  Special agents analyzed this individual’s time sheets, fuel purchase reports and schedules to determine when he was officially ‘on the clock’ and when it was obvious he was using his state-owned vehicle for personal use that is clearly a violation of State Law.”

Mississippi Code Section 25-1-79 clearly prohibits personal use in a state-owned vehicle for any purpose other than the official business of the State of Mississippi.  Personal use is not to be confused with allowable uses of state-owned vehicles as outlined in the Department of Finance and Administration’s Fleet Manual.  Personal travel, such as vacations, out of town trips while off duty, transportation of family members, etc., is prohibited.

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