Burleigh County Sheriff Steve Berg attempted to respond to questions regarding an investigation of his department's spending for uniforms.

The Burleigh County Commission announced Wednesday that the Bureau of Criminal Investigation was looking into the possibility that in 2004 Berg overspent what is allowed by law on uniforms.

Berg said that the commission had approved the expenditures in 2004, and it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that questions arose regarding the spending. The sheriff said he believes the charges are politically motivated, coming just days before election.

Berg displayed the clothing and equipment that his office provides for a deputy in their first year. All totaled, it is valued at $5,816, and includes shirts, pants, coats, bullet-proof vest, gun, holster, flashlights, mace, badges, handcuffs and much more.

The state Century Code on uniform expenditure, first enacted in 1967 and last revised in 1981, allows $500 for uniforms the first year of a deputy's employment and $350 each year after. Berg said that if the department would only purchase one shirt, one pair of pants, one coat, a flashlight, badge, collar brass and name tag, it would cost $563.88.

Berg called the law outdated and in need of change. He said he would not send out the officers in his employ in anything less than what was now provided.

"I have to provide the officers the equipment to perform their job and duties. I want to make sure they go home safe at night, and I want to provide as much as I can to ensure that happens," Berg said.

Berg said that the previous sheriff, Bob Harvey, gave out the same equipment. He also said he was unaware of the state law until it was recently brought to his attention.

"The law was never presented to me as something to look at as far as a uniform budget. I looked at it as if it's a clothing allowance for a plain clothes officer," Berg said. "There is no definition in law that I know of for what a uniform is."

- Gordon Weixel