LINCOLN — The police chief in Oakland told officials there he was using gift cards to buy ammunition.

However, an audit by the Nebraska State Auditor's Office revealed Oakland Police Chief Terry Poland almost used $15,000 in funds from the northeast Nebraska farm town to purchase a list of personal items.

The items ranged from ice-fishing equipment to a $400 wake surfboard and a $950 glass basketball backboard.

Additionally, the audit, released Monday, June 7, indicated that Poland and two other officers double-billed hours to both Oakland and nearby Lyons for time patrolling the streets.

Oakland Mayor Ted Beckner said that Poland is still on the job, pending a completed investigation by the FBI.

“I can’t tell you much until an investigation is done,” which may take two to three months, Beckner said.

Poland had previously told city officials that using Scheels gift cards to buy ammo was convenient and allowed officers to buy bullets when they were in Omaha.

However, the audit revealed the chief had used Oakland's charge account at Scheels to purchase $14,070 worth of gift cards which were then used to buy dozens of personal items, including “a Yeti cooler, jewelry, clothing, food/snacks, fishing equipment, and other goods that serve no apparent public or municipal purpose,” according to the audit.

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