It sounds like Keystone Cops...on both sides.
It could just be a personality conflict with the "female" Mayor.
He probably wasnt paying attention to her civilian authority and she wasnt aquiescing to his military uniform & bars, and therein began a small military Man vs. Civilian yokel chic conflict juxtaposed over a backdrop of roll playing fantasy and sexual tension...LOL...I crack myself up.
Going in and proclaiming that he was "in charge" was his first mistake. ~grin~
Anyway, he looked at the items so he probably has a good idea of what was there. The computer and the briefcase will be given to either his wife or his boss...and it'll all shake out.
That doesn't explain why Ft. Carsom would have no record of him.