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A two-member team from the Michigan Sheriff's Association investigated the 2005 actions of Lt. Jim Wagester, who employed two inmates to work on his rental properties for 14 days. Inmates Todd Davis and Jim Coburn were prosecution witnesses in a safe-breaking case when Wagester, the lead investigator in the case, hired them. They replaced siding and built decks for the officer for 14 days, while signed out of the jail on work release for a different employer.

"He expects to have the report here by Wednesday," said Strickler, who requested the outside investigation by the sheriff's association last month.

Strickler said the team had one more person to interview Ð Coburn Ð when he last spoke with them last Thursday.

"I would think if I do in fact receive the report (on Aug. 22), I would expect I would have something by Friday or Monday at the latest."

Depending on the results of the investigation, Strickler said possible disciplinary action for Wagester could range from "nothing, obviously, if he's found not at fault, to discharge if it's serious enough."

Strickler has stated previously that mistakes were made but he did not think Wagester, a 17-year member of the sheriff department, intended to do anything wrong.

Wagester's actions became public during a recent trial of one of the safe breaking suspects. The disclosures prompted the circuit and district court judges, and the sheriff, to adopt policies forbidding court and police officers from employing jail inmates.

Wagester has declined comment until the investigation concluded.