Police chief's spending revealed

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Questionable expenditures turned up in a review of Police Chief Bruce Marquis' city credit card statements. WAVY.com learned Marquis is one of the city's biggest spenders. He travels around the country staying at resorts like The Homestead in Hot Springs and the Ritz Carlton in Washington D.C.

The chief has also used his city credit card, payed by Norfolk taxpayers, to dine out when he's in town, taking other supervisors and department heads out to lunch and dinner and feasting on shrimp cocktail, oysters rockafeller, calamari, New York strip steak, lamb, wild salmon and ribeye.

The City Auditor told WAVY.com, when his office finishes reviewing all 400 employee credit cards, he plans to recommend new city rules when it comes to dining out on the taxpayers' dime.

WAVY.com discovered Marquis for years has charged taxpayers for the XM Satellite radio in his SUV - $27 a month. Also, $300 a year for his OnStar subscription.

The City Auditor said he reported his concerns about taxpayers footing the bill for the chief's satellite radio and OnStar subscription to the City Manager several years ago.

But, according to the chief's credit card statements, obtained by WAVY.com, Norfolk residents continued to pay those bills.

Another issue is the chief's meal expenses, and not just when he's out of town. For years Marquis has been breaking out his city credit card in Norfolk at places like Kincaids, Byrd & Baldwin Brothers steakhouse, 456 Fish, Domo's Sushi, Omar's Carraige House, Sterlings and Espeto Na Brasa. He has treated police supervisors and other department heads to fancy meals during their normal work day, but making citizens pay.

A few examples:

Lunch with Sgts. at Granby Bistro = $100.68

Lunch with "another department head" at California Pizza Kitchen = $46.33

Lunch with the sheriff at California Pizza Kitchen = $23.78

Lunch with "vice mayor and others" at Kincaids = $68.54

Lunch with prosecutor at Kincaids = $86.71

NOBLE board meeting at Espeto Na Brasa = $68.68

Dinner with regional chiefs at 456 Fish = $892.43

"Lunch with officers" at Kelly's = $48.25

And there are trips all over the country for conferences.

8 nights at a Marriott in New York City in 2008 = $2,700.

5 nights at The Homestead resort in Hot Springs = $1,851

2 nights at the Ritz Carlton in D.C. in 2009 = $515

And, just one night at a Marriott in D.C. = $458

A spokesman for the chief told WAVY.com the trips were for law enforcement conferences and that some of the bills on those trips included meals for members of his stafff who went along.

The spokesman said Chief Marquis has also always encouraged his officers to travel to attend police conferences and schools.

The chief recently came under fire for his handling of the death of a police recruit. Some members of City Council were unhappy with him. Councilman Tommy Smigiel said he had lost confidence in the chief and many citizens were upset with Marquis.

But, city leaders said it would be up to the incoming city manager, Marcus Jones to decide if it's time for Chief Marquis to go.