Local News in Brief : Probe of 2 County Depts.

Troubled by two cases of alleged embezzlement by county employees, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have called for an investigation into the management practices where the losses occurred.

The board called on the heads of the county Fire and Facilities Management departments to “investigate the breakdown of supervision, identify the supervising personnel responsible for the breakdowns and take appropriate disciplinary action” in the wake of the separate incidents.

The action came as investigators continue to look into the embezzlement of more than $800,000 from the Fire Department’s petty cash fund. A civilian accountant, William Paternostro, who had control of the account, was suspended with pay last November, although charges have not been filed against him.

County officials are also investigating the suspected embezzlement of an estimated $100,000 from a county auto repair shop that is part of the Facilities Management Department. No charges have been filed in that case.