City auditor fired for taking lewd pic

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - City auditor Darryl McPherson's name will soon be scratched off the door inside Buffalo City Hall.

He purportedly took at least one inappropriate picture of a female co-worker with his personal cell phone and was abruptly fired on Thursday.

McPherson didn't want to leave his upscale Main Street condo to speak with News 4 and wouldn't talk about the incident.

City Comptroller Mark Schroeder fired McPherson and says he sent a letter to the authorities, alerting them to what took place.

"Anytime something inappropriate happens in audit and control, in the office of the comptroller, I am going to act swiftly," Schroeder assured.

A supervisor reportedly saw McPherson walking through an aisle of cubicles, snapping the picture up his victim's skirt. He was confronted about the issue. McPherson reportedly didn't deny anything and was fired immediately.

The former auditor's accolades are listed on the city's website. McPherson ran the Division of Audit, "prosecuted violations of city ordinances," and was "named one of Business First's Forty Under 40 in 2001."

Schroeder continued, "They have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a way that others would like to emulate."

And after seven years of service, the comptroller says the situation is a disappointment. Schroeder wouldn't say when McPherson will stop receiving a paycheck from the city. There is an open search to fill the city auditor position.

As for the victim, she has not yet pressed charges.