In the wake of two separate Monroe County government theft cases involving employees, County Commissioner Heather Carruthers on Tuesday called for an internal auditor to review county policies and procedures.

She wants more oversight over the people who are responsible for handling county "cash or equipment."

Carruthers and her fellow commissioners agreed to take up the issue with Clerk of Court-elect Amy Heavilin, who is scheduled to be sworn in January. The clerk of court oversees auditing of county divisions and services.

Carruthers' proposal comes after a Monroe County trash worker was charged with felony counts of petty theft and official misconduct, after being investigated for stealing tipping fees and writing bogus receipts to customers.

The Monroe County State Attorney's Office investigated David Sinclair, a scale operator at the Key Largo transfer station, for several months. The State Attorney's Office was also investigating Sinclair's co-worker James Bates, but he died of natural causes last month.

Sinclair was the second county employee to be arrested on theft charges this year. Former County Technical Services Director Lisa Druckemiller was arrested on charges of dealing in stolen property and scheming to defraud.

She is accused of stealing 52 county-owned iPads and iPhones and selling them to co-workers and acquaintances.

She abruptly retired in March as the investigation got under way. She was arrested July 17, and is free on $30,000 bail, waiting to plead guilty before a judge and be sentenced.

Also Tuesday, Former Clerk of Court Danny Kolhage was sworn in as a county commissioner, and Tuesday was Bob Shillinger's first meeting as county attorney, after 12 years as an assistant county attorney.

Recently elected federal House Rep. Joe Garcia was there to introduce himself to the commission and let the public know he'll have a full-time staff person in the Keys. Garcia said the Keys are one of the "center points of the district."

Commissioners also approved a contract with the Campbell & Malafy law firm to research if the county is entitled to BP money. The firm will determine if the county has a right to file a claim for lost revenue.

The County Commission will hold a public meeting next month in Marathon to discuss BP claims and the recently passed Restore Act, designed to allocate such money.

tohara@keysnews.com