Terri Thorn, director of operations and finance officer, was found not at fault after receiving a mountain bike won during a raffle while attending a conference in Kansas City in August, 2007. The investigation handled by Detective Josh Mitchell of the Warren County Sheriff's Department found that no crime was committed. Mitchell interviewed five individuals, including city employees Patrick Randolph and Thorn. In forwarding his department's results to the city, Sheriff Kevin Harrison said the matter should be handled by the aldermen. "From our findings, we cannot substantiate any criminal activity," Harrison told The Record. Mayor Greg Costello released the investigation's results at Tuesday night's board of aldermen meeting. Through Thorn's request, he contacted the sheriff's department to complete an official internal investigation. He did not know how much the inquiry might cost. "I know some people think it's an overreaction, but if I'm an innocent person who had that comment implied, I certainly would want the same thing done to clear my name," Costello said. Thorn added later: "I would like to thank the board for taking quick action and having it done." The investigation was initiated after former city building commissioner Nick Beelek questioned whether Thorn had received an expensive mountain bike. The question was raised at the Sept. 16 board of aldermen meeting. During Mitchell's investigation, he contacted Beelek who said he wasn't accusing Thorn of accepting a bribe, but that she was in violation of city policy and procedures. City policy says all officers and employees are prohibited from accepting any "rebates, gifts, money or anything of value." The raffle did not fall under this policy, city officials said. "With freedom of speech, you have to have a responsibility of what you say," Costello said. According to Mitchell's report, Thorn admitted she entered her name in a raffle while attending the eighth annual Recreation Facility Design School Aug. 6-9, 2007, with Randolph. Her name was later drawn from the raffle. She won a mountain bicycle donated by Dick's Sporting Goods, the report said. The investigation also included interviews with Jan Neitzert, executive director for the Missouri Parks and Recreation, and Tom Betti, architect with Ankeny Kell Architectural Firm. Neitzert confirmed the mountain bike was donated by Dick's and noted several prizes are donated by different businesses for the raffle. While the architectural firm is currently working with the city on the possible construction of a new indoor recreation center and helped design the city hall expansion project, Betti said the company did not donate any prizes for the raffle. Another former city employee questioned the city's handling of its workers Tuesday night. Richard Buxton was employed by the city for over 20 years, but was terminated unexpectedly Sept. 3. "From what I heard, the day I was dismissed from the city of Warrenton, it was out on the street by 8:30 the next morning even before I knew I was dismissed," he told the aldermen and the mayor. "You are all supposed to do that in executive session. Well, then, you all don't have a very good executive session." Later in Tuesday's meeting, city officials discussed the need to hold a workshop session to talk about the employee improvement plan, which will include the city's policies regarding the termination of employees, Costello said. "I think the public needs to be aware the board is making an attempt to review the employee policy issues," he said. He later added, "We are committed to building our efforts to make sure we are doing it in the best and most efficient way and a fair way to our employees." The work session is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m.