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Former school resource officer terminated and charged after discrepancy with time sheet

COLUMBUS—A Polk County Deputy was fired and charged this week after a discrepancy regarding a timesheet.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Thursday afternoon saying that the deputy, formerly assigned to the school resources division, was terminated and charged this week.

James Cox was charged with one count of obtaining property by false pretenses, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office says it immediately contacted the district attorney’s office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation after it became aware of the discrepancy regarding the timesheets of patrol deputy Cox on Monday.

The NCSBI charged Cox on Thursday and the sheriff’s office terminated his employment on Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office said Sheriff Tim Wright has worked vigilantly since taking office to implement high accountability and professionalism standards.

“In this case, those accountability processes worked and corrective action was immediately taken,” said the sheriff’s office’s statement. “In an effort to remain as transparent and accountable as possible the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has remained in constant contact with the District Attorney’s Office and cooperated fully with the NCSBI throughout this process.”

The sheriff’s office said Thursday that no further information regarding the personnel matter can be released at this time per North Carolina Statues.

“The NCSBI and the 42^nd District Attorney’s Office have handled all aspects of the investigation at the direct request of sheriff Wright,” said Polk County Sheriff’s Office Staff Attorney and Public Information Officer J.J. Sauve.