'Possible Criminal Activity Within Departments of San Bernardino City Government'

Two days after the San Bernardino city council voted to seek bankruptcy protection, the Sheriff's Department announced an investigation of possible criminal activity within the city's government was continuing.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department issued a brief statement just before 6 p.m. Thursday.

"Several months ago at the request of San Bernardino City officials, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, along with the San Bernardino Police Department and the District Attorney's Office began an investigation related to allegations of possible criminal activity within departments of the San Bernardino city government," the statement says.

"The investigation is continuing and details will not be released at this time. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available."

The San Bernardino council, facing a city deficit of $45 million, voted Tuesday night to proceed with a Chapter 9 bankruptcy filing, joining Stockton and Mammoth Lakes to become the third California city to seek bankruptcy protection in recent weeks.

City Attorney Jim Penman told reporters that over a stretch of 16 years city budget officials presented falsified documents to the mayor and the city council that showed city finances in the black, when they were in fact in the red 13 of those years. Penman did not name the people allegedly responsible.

The very first public question posed Wednesday at the city of Redlands State of Community luncheon focused on whether there is any concern of a possible "" from the San Bernardino city council's authorization to file for bankruptcy the night before.

Councilmembers Bob Gardner and Jon Harrison joined Mayor Pete Aguilar in assuring State of the Community lunch guests that Redlands is on more "solid financial footing" than the neighboring city of San Bernardino.

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