FERRIDAY, La. – The Louisiana State Police and the Legislative Auditor’s Office are conducting a joint investigation of the Ferriday Police Department, representatives of both agencies said Monday.

But both agencies have flatly refused to confirm what they are investigating at the department until the investigation is complete and will not say how much longer the probe could take to complete.

&uot;We are working on that investigation along with the Auditor’s Office,&uot;&160;said Senior Trooper Steve Childers, spokesman for State Police Troop E in Alexandria.

&uot;But I&160;can’t confirm anything else … because it’s an ongoing investigation.&uot;

Police Chief Eddie Newman said Monday he had no idea what the purpose of the probe was.

&uot;I don’t have a clue what they’re doing,&uot; he said. &uot;To the best of my knowledge we’re in compliance.&uot;

State Auditor Dan Kyle said representatives of his office began their current police probe in early February.

But they had to take a few weeks off from that work to investigate the alleged theft of about $118,000 in town funds by two former Ferriday Town Hall clerks, he added.

This is not the first time the State Auditor’s Office has visited the Ferriday Police Department in the past year.

Last August, the Legislative Auditor’s Office released a report that showed, among other things, incomplete tracking of traffic tickets and lax approval of employees’ time cards.

Meanwhile, Kyle said that his office’s review of 1999 tax records and other financial documents of the Town of Ferriday is not yet complete.

The review is being conducted to see whether estimates of the amount of funds ex-Town Clerk Ida W. Tolliver and former water clerk Kathy R. Green allegedly stole need to be revised.

A report released March 13 by Kyle’s office said Green and Tolliver admitted taking almost $118,000 in town utility and tax payments for their own use between July 1998 and February 2000.

Both women pleaded not guilty March 29 in Seventh Judicial District Court in Vidalia to charges of malfeasance and theft.