Showing posts with label audits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label audits. Show all posts
Friday, March 7, 2014
Cost cutting and consolidation measures
I take seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of tax-payer dollars. That’s why we are moving to consolidate audit services with the City’s Audit Department. Our Internal Audit Unit manager position was eliminated today, and the three officers assigned to that unit will be moved to other places on the department. This unit has done an admirable job through the years of raising accountability and improving our department’s efficiency. We are facing a $5.5 million deficit in this current fiscal year. The vast majority of our costs are for pay and benefits, so there are limited opportunities for cost cutting.
Consolidating audit services was an obvious choice. The City Auditor’s Office has worked with us on many occasions, providing an independent review and oversight of our operations. I trust they will be able to continue to do so.
Additionally, I eliminated a director position over our Victim Support Division. While the Division’s work is very important, it’s a rather small group, and a director-level position was not necessary to oversee it. A sergeant will now take the helm there. And as I wrote earlier, we’re closer than ever before to consolidating detention operations with the City and Jackson County.
I’ve also ordered a review of an efficiency study that was done prior to my tenure as chief. I want to ensure we have taken all the steps possible to run the most streamlined operation we can.
Finally, we have put a hiring freeze on all non-sworn positions.
We are not stagnant. We are constantly looking for opportunities to cut costs, be that in the forms of consolidating, outsourcing or eliminating. But we must do so prudently. Wantonly eliminating critical resources would come at the expense of the city’s safety. I pledge to do the most we can with the funds we have.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Audit shows KCPD fully meets continuing education requirements
PRESS RELEASE:
An internal audit revealed that Kansas City Police officers are in complete compliance with state continuing education requirements but recommended a lighter workload for the one person assigned to keep track of these courses.
Missouri Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) requires all law enforcement officers to have 48 credit hours of continuing education every three years. Internal auditors examined a sampling of the more than 1,200 KCPD officers who took mandated continuing education courses over a three-year period. They found all officers are meeting their continuing education requirements and that the credits are being effectively tracked for state requirements.
The audit did find, however, that the burden of coordinating and tracking all of KCPD’s law enforcement continuing education training fell to one person. Auditors determined her workload was too high, and commanders responded that they would try to spread some of her duties out among other staff members.
The full audit report is available online.
An internal audit revealed that Kansas City Police officers are in complete compliance with state continuing education requirements but recommended a lighter workload for the one person assigned to keep track of these courses.
Missouri Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) requires all law enforcement officers to have 48 credit hours of continuing education every three years. Internal auditors examined a sampling of the more than 1,200 KCPD officers who took mandated continuing education courses over a three-year period. They found all officers are meeting their continuing education requirements and that the credits are being effectively tracked for state requirements.
The audit did find, however, that the burden of coordinating and tracking all of KCPD’s law enforcement continuing education training fell to one person. Auditors determined her workload was too high, and commanders responded that they would try to spread some of her duties out among other staff members.
The full audit report is available online.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Audit recommends better use of data collected from use-of-force forms
PRESS RELEASE:
Kansas City Missouri Police collect a lot of data about use of force among officers, but they need to do a better job of using and disseminating that data, according to an internal audit report released today.
The Internal Audit Unit found the data was collected well on paper forms whenever an officer used deadly force, a non-deadly weapon or caused or incurred injury, but the forms weren’t being put into databases accessible to as many department elements as they could be. For example, defensive tactics instructors at the Police Academy were unable to access the information. They use that data to determine whether any of the techniques they teach cause injury to suspects or officers and adjust their instruction accordingly.
Internal auditors recommended all the information currently collected on Response to Resistance forms be input into a new employee program called SEERS (Successful Employee Enhancement and Retention System). This would allow all pertinent elements access to the use-of-force information and identify any officers who repeatedly were involved in incidents in which force was used.
The Internal Audit Unit also released results of its post audit about “buy money,” which is used to conduct under-cover drug and criminal investigations. The audit found under-cover units are doing a better job at securing, tracking and reporting expenditures of this money.
The audit reports are available online at www.kcmo.org/police/AboutUs/Audit/index.htm. For more information about the audits, contact Internal Audit Unit Manager Tom Gee at 816-889-6051.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Kansas City Missouri Police collect a lot of data about use of force among officers, but they need to do a better job of using and disseminating that data, according to an internal audit report released today.
The Internal Audit Unit found the data was collected well on paper forms whenever an officer used deadly force, a non-deadly weapon or caused or incurred injury, but the forms weren’t being put into databases accessible to as many department elements as they could be. For example, defensive tactics instructors at the Police Academy were unable to access the information. They use that data to determine whether any of the techniques they teach cause injury to suspects or officers and adjust their instruction accordingly.
Internal auditors recommended all the information currently collected on Response to Resistance forms be input into a new employee program called SEERS (Successful Employee Enhancement and Retention System). This would allow all pertinent elements access to the use-of-force information and identify any officers who repeatedly were involved in incidents in which force was used.
The Internal Audit Unit also released results of its post audit about “buy money,” which is used to conduct under-cover drug and criminal investigations. The audit found under-cover units are doing a better job at securing, tracking and reporting expenditures of this money.
The audit reports are available online at www.kcmo.org/police/AboutUs/Audit/index.htm. For more information about the audits, contact Internal Audit Unit Manager Tom Gee at 816-889-6051.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Kansas City Police release audits on vehicle pursuits and take-home cars
PRESS RELEASE:
Kansas City Police have reduced their take-home vehicle fleet to the lowest level in seven years, and officers were involved in a total of 105 vehicular pursuits in 2009, according to audits released today by the Internal Audit Unit.
The annual take-home vehicle audit showed the department reduced its take-home vehicle fleet by 52. A total of 373 vehicles were assigned as take-home in 2009, compared to 425 in 2008. This is the smallest amount of take-home vehicles the department has had since 2002.
The vehicle pursuit audit found that KCPD was involved in 105 vehicular pursuits in 2009. The leading reason was because of clear and immediate danger. Only one police car was damaged in these pursuits, but 53 non-police cars were damaged. No police officers were injured in 2009 pursuits, and the department did not pay out any money for litigation involving these pursuits. The audit found the department concludes vehicular pursuits in one of two ways: deploying a tire deflation device or waiting for the pursued vehicle to stop. Auditors recommended the department look into using the PIT maneuver (Pursuit Immobilization Technique) to end pursuits, but commanders decided against it. This audit will now be done annually.
The full audit reports are available online. For more information about the audits, contact Internal Audit Unit Manager Thomas Gee at 816-889-6051.
Kansas City Police have reduced their take-home vehicle fleet to the lowest level in seven years, and officers were involved in a total of 105 vehicular pursuits in 2009, according to audits released today by the Internal Audit Unit.
The annual take-home vehicle audit showed the department reduced its take-home vehicle fleet by 52. A total of 373 vehicles were assigned as take-home in 2009, compared to 425 in 2008. This is the smallest amount of take-home vehicles the department has had since 2002.
The vehicle pursuit audit found that KCPD was involved in 105 vehicular pursuits in 2009. The leading reason was because of clear and immediate danger. Only one police car was damaged in these pursuits, but 53 non-police cars were damaged. No police officers were injured in 2009 pursuits, and the department did not pay out any money for litigation involving these pursuits. The audit found the department concludes vehicular pursuits in one of two ways: deploying a tire deflation device or waiting for the pursued vehicle to stop. Auditors recommended the department look into using the PIT maneuver (Pursuit Immobilization Technique) to end pursuits, but commanders decided against it. This audit will now be done annually.
The full audit reports are available online. For more information about the audits, contact Internal Audit Unit Manager Thomas Gee at 816-889-6051.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Kansas City Police release audits on Communications Support and Supply units
PRESS RELEASE:
KCPD’s Communications Support Unit should better secure $6.2 million worth of radio equipment, and the Supply Unit should streamline the ordering of office supplies, according to audits released today by the Internal Audit Unit.
Internal auditors found that nearly $6.2 million in equipment was left in unsecured locations at the Communications Support Unit. Much of the equipment is being stored for a large radio rebanding project, which was delayed because of manufacturer defects in the equipment. Communications Support staff indicated the equipment would be gone once rebanding was completed, but auditors continue to have concerns about security.
KCPD’s internal auditors also recommended that the Supply Unit streamline its office supply ordering and delivery system by considering an outside vendor to handle all the orders and delivery, rather than delivering office supply orders to the Supply Unit, who then distribute them to all department elements. Commanders decided not to implement this recommendation because it would limit the department’s ability to buy in bulk and because of the implementation of a new online supply ordering system the department will start using July 1.
Click to see the full audit reports.
KCPD’s Communications Support Unit should better secure $6.2 million worth of radio equipment, and the Supply Unit should streamline the ordering of office supplies, according to audits released today by the Internal Audit Unit.
Internal auditors found that nearly $6.2 million in equipment was left in unsecured locations at the Communications Support Unit. Much of the equipment is being stored for a large radio rebanding project, which was delayed because of manufacturer defects in the equipment. Communications Support staff indicated the equipment would be gone once rebanding was completed, but auditors continue to have concerns about security.
KCPD’s internal auditors also recommended that the Supply Unit streamline its office supply ordering and delivery system by considering an outside vendor to handle all the orders and delivery, rather than delivering office supply orders to the Supply Unit, who then distribute them to all department elements. Commanders decided not to implement this recommendation because it would limit the department’s ability to buy in bulk and because of the implementation of a new online supply ordering system the department will start using July 1.
Click to see the full audit reports.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Kansas City Police release audits on car crashes, use of grant overtime funds
PRESS RELEASE:
Preventable car crashes cost KCPD more than $362,000 in 2008, internal auditors found, so commanders are recommending all patrol officers and any department member who gets in a preventable crash take driver’s training.
The Department’s Internal Audit Unit today released an audit on preventable car crashes and a follow-up audit on how the department uses overtime money allotted in traffic grants.
The Preventable Vehicular Accident Post-Audit showed KCPD had 149 preventable crashes in 2008 involving 131 police department members, which is an increase of 33 crashes over 2007. The crashes cost the department $362,681, which is $73,000 more than in 2007. Those who have worked at the department for six or fewer years were responsible for 55 percent of crashes. In November 2008, the Police Academy implemented a Driver’s Training Section dedicated to reducing these numbers. As of August 2009, 118 department members and 100 police recruits have gone through the training. After reviewing the audit, police commanders have recommended that all patrol officers take the 32-hour course, as should any other department member who is involved in a preventable car crash.
The Special Operations Division Grant Overtime Post Audit followed up on a January 2007 internal audit that recommended better tracking of hours for federal grant traffic programs that fund specific traffic projects. Those grants are: Hazardous Moving Grant, Multiple Offender Grant, Occupant Protection Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-435 Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-70 Grant, Sobriety Checkpoint Grant and Youth Alcohol Grant. The Post Audit found officers adopted all of the original audit’s recommendations, and they are accurately tracking the hours spent on these projects.
Click here to see the full Preventable Vehicular Audit.
Click here to see the SOD Grant Overtime Post Audit.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Preventable car crashes cost KCPD more than $362,000 in 2008, internal auditors found, so commanders are recommending all patrol officers and any department member who gets in a preventable crash take driver’s training.
The Department’s Internal Audit Unit today released an audit on preventable car crashes and a follow-up audit on how the department uses overtime money allotted in traffic grants.
The Preventable Vehicular Accident Post-Audit showed KCPD had 149 preventable crashes in 2008 involving 131 police department members, which is an increase of 33 crashes over 2007. The crashes cost the department $362,681, which is $73,000 more than in 2007. Those who have worked at the department for six or fewer years were responsible for 55 percent of crashes. In November 2008, the Police Academy implemented a Driver’s Training Section dedicated to reducing these numbers. As of August 2009, 118 department members and 100 police recruits have gone through the training. After reviewing the audit, police commanders have recommended that all patrol officers take the 32-hour course, as should any other department member who is involved in a preventable car crash.
The Special Operations Division Grant Overtime Post Audit followed up on a January 2007 internal audit that recommended better tracking of hours for federal grant traffic programs that fund specific traffic projects. Those grants are: Hazardous Moving Grant, Multiple Offender Grant, Occupant Protection Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-435 Grant, Speed Enforcement on I-70 Grant, Sobriety Checkpoint Grant and Youth Alcohol Grant. The Post Audit found officers adopted all of the original audit’s recommendations, and they are accurately tracking the hours spent on these projects.
Click here to see the full Preventable Vehicular Audit.
Click here to see the SOD Grant Overtime Post Audit.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Kansas City Police release audits on pager use, Fugitive Apprehension staffing
PRESS RELEASE:
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s Internal Audit Unit released two audits today, one regarding the use of department cell phones and pagers and another about staffing needs in the Fugitive Apprehension and Arraignment Section.
Internal auditors discovered that the department had been paying nearly $17,000 annually for 229 pagers that were no longer in use. The audit recommended better tracking of these pagers and reducing their use as much as possible. Since November 2008, the department has reduced the number of pagers used by 24 percent. The audit also pointed out that the department funds 519 cell phones at a cost of $218,400 a year. Another 39 cell phones are funded by grants. The audit found little issue with cell phone usage and pointed out that the Fiscal Division commander addresses any questionable charges.
The other audit addressed a recommendation from a department task force that stated two additional detectives in the Fugitive Apprehension and Arraignment Section could result in more than 670 additional warrants served a year. The audit found this calculation was incorrect and recommended another model for predicting staffing needs.
The full audit reports are available here.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s Internal Audit Unit released two audits today, one regarding the use of department cell phones and pagers and another about staffing needs in the Fugitive Apprehension and Arraignment Section.
Internal auditors discovered that the department had been paying nearly $17,000 annually for 229 pagers that were no longer in use. The audit recommended better tracking of these pagers and reducing their use as much as possible. Since November 2008, the department has reduced the number of pagers used by 24 percent. The audit also pointed out that the department funds 519 cell phones at a cost of $218,400 a year. Another 39 cell phones are funded by grants. The audit found little issue with cell phone usage and pointed out that the Fiscal Division commander addresses any questionable charges.
The other audit addressed a recommendation from a department task force that stated two additional detectives in the Fugitive Apprehension and Arraignment Section could result in more than 670 additional warrants served a year. The audit found this calculation was incorrect and recommended another model for predicting staffing needs.
The full audit reports are available here.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Friday, July 24, 2009
KCPD to change take-home car policy as result of internal audit
PRESS RELEASE:
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department will revise its take-home-car policy and revoke the take-home status of 60 vehicles in response to an internal audit released at today’s Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting.
The Department’s Internal Audit Unit does an annual review of take-home cars to determine who is using them, how much fuel they used and whether they are being used according to policy. The last audit, completed in August 2008, revealed a 7.3 percent increase in the take-home fleet from 2007 to 2008. It also showed some of those vehicles had fuel usage that was above the Department average. Auditors began to examine the reasons for the increase and found that the self-reporting process for take-home cars is flawed, and not all vehicles being operated as take-home cars were being properly reported.
In response to this audit, Chief James Corwin asked the Internal Audit Unit to physically verify the location of all the department’s 1,000-plus vehicles, including bicycles, trailers and specialty vehicles like Tactical Unit tanks. This audit was released at the Board of Police Commissioners’ July 9 meeting and is available at www.kcpd.org. Chief Corwin wanted that audit completed before the release of the August 2008 Take-Home Vehicle Audit, which is now available on the department’s Web site.
In response to both of the audits, Chief Corwin ordered that 60 of the take-home vehicles have their take-home status revoked. This will save an estimated $178,080 to $179,400 a year. He also ordered the policy regarding take-home vehicles to be revised, a task which is now underway. He further has requested a follow-up audit in February 2010 to ensure the reductions in the take-home fleet and conformity to the Department’s policy.
“I’m grateful to our Internal Audit Unit for seeing that a problem existed with take-home vehicles and doggedly working to find out why,” Chief Corwin said. “This is an excellent example of our commitments to be transparent and to be good stewards of taxpayers’ money. When we have a problem, we let the public know about it, and we fix it.”
The full audit report is available here.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department will revise its take-home-car policy and revoke the take-home status of 60 vehicles in response to an internal audit released at today’s Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting.
The Department’s Internal Audit Unit does an annual review of take-home cars to determine who is using them, how much fuel they used and whether they are being used according to policy. The last audit, completed in August 2008, revealed a 7.3 percent increase in the take-home fleet from 2007 to 2008. It also showed some of those vehicles had fuel usage that was above the Department average. Auditors began to examine the reasons for the increase and found that the self-reporting process for take-home cars is flawed, and not all vehicles being operated as take-home cars were being properly reported.
In response to this audit, Chief James Corwin asked the Internal Audit Unit to physically verify the location of all the department’s 1,000-plus vehicles, including bicycles, trailers and specialty vehicles like Tactical Unit tanks. This audit was released at the Board of Police Commissioners’ July 9 meeting and is available at www.kcpd.org. Chief Corwin wanted that audit completed before the release of the August 2008 Take-Home Vehicle Audit, which is now available on the department’s Web site.
In response to both of the audits, Chief Corwin ordered that 60 of the take-home vehicles have their take-home status revoked. This will save an estimated $178,080 to $179,400 a year. He also ordered the policy regarding take-home vehicles to be revised, a task which is now underway. He further has requested a follow-up audit in February 2010 to ensure the reductions in the take-home fleet and conformity to the Department’s policy.
“I’m grateful to our Internal Audit Unit for seeing that a problem existed with take-home vehicles and doggedly working to find out why,” Chief Corwin said. “This is an excellent example of our commitments to be transparent and to be good stewards of taxpayers’ money. When we have a problem, we let the public know about it, and we fix it.”
The full audit report is available here.
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Kansas City Police release audit on vehicle fleet
PRESS RELEASE:
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s Internal Audit Unit released an audit today of the status of the department’s vehicle fleet.
Internal auditors were tasked with finding where all 1,030 department vehicles were assigned and their condition. This audit included bicycles, motorcycles, trailers, leased under-cover vehicles, specialty vehicles and more.
Auditors found several record-keeping problems that arose from low-level self reporting, redundant paper-based systems and a frequent reassignment of vehicles.
The audit found the average life span of a KCPD vehicle is eight years, and the average KCPD vehicle has 140,000 miles on it. It also stated that the fleet’s condition is not as good as previously believed.
“The ability of the Fleet Operations Unit to extend the average service life of the vehicle fleet has created an externally overly optimistic view of the fleet’s condition,” the audit states in its “Findings” section.
Chief James Corwin requested the fleet status audit after he reviewed the 2008 annual take-home car audit. That audit is still being studied by department commanders and will be released at a later date.
The full audit report is available online at http://www.kcpd.org/kcpd2004/1/Fleet%2008-10.pdf
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
The Kansas City Missouri Police Department’s Internal Audit Unit released an audit today of the status of the department’s vehicle fleet.
Internal auditors were tasked with finding where all 1,030 department vehicles were assigned and their condition. This audit included bicycles, motorcycles, trailers, leased under-cover vehicles, specialty vehicles and more.
Auditors found several record-keeping problems that arose from low-level self reporting, redundant paper-based systems and a frequent reassignment of vehicles.
The audit found the average life span of a KCPD vehicle is eight years, and the average KCPD vehicle has 140,000 miles on it. It also stated that the fleet’s condition is not as good as previously believed.
“The ability of the Fleet Operations Unit to extend the average service life of the vehicle fleet has created an externally overly optimistic view of the fleet’s condition,” the audit states in its “Findings” section.
Chief James Corwin requested the fleet status audit after he reviewed the 2008 annual take-home car audit. That audit is still being studied by department commanders and will be released at a later date.
The full audit report is available online at http://www.kcpd.org/kcpd2004/1/Fleet%2008-10.pdf
Send comments to kcpdchiefblog@kcpd.org
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