Veterinary board presses department for clearer complaints and investigations report after staff update

Board members asked for a comprehensive update on complaints and investigations during the meeting's new-business segment. Ken Bernard said the board expected a fuller report at this meeting and pressed for clarity on pending matters.

Chris Andresen, department staff, reported there were "19 open investigations," most dated 2025, and that eight cases are currently with the legal office. He clarified that not all complaints become investigations and said that six 2025 complaints had been closed after review rather than forwarded for disciplinary action.

On older matters, Andresen said there is one case that originated in 2021 now assigned to the legal office after prior staff retirements and reassignments, and that several cases opened in 2024 were later referred to legal. He acknowledged legal-office staffing turnover contributed to slower processing of some files.

Board members, expressing frustration that a written report promised at the previous meeting was missing, asked that the department provide a written summary, invite the investigations lead or supervisor to attend the next meeting, and distribute a sortable Excel tracker of complaints and investigations with the agenda.

The board recorded these requests as follow-up items and moved to adjourn.