Every year, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reports on both the Philadelphia taxpayer funds we’ve protected and how we’ve held wrong-doers accountable for their actions.
What we do
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) works to keep City government free from fraud, corruption, and misconduct. We conduct investigations of all government entities under the Mayor’s jurisdiction to enhance the public’s confidence in our City’s government.
Check out some of the latest highlights in our 2021 annual report.
Power in numbers
In 2021, the OIG’s investigations resulted in:
- Over $8.6 million in savings and recovery, several times the OIG’s budget
- 29 employee terminations
- 9 suspensions/reprimands
- 7 criminal enforcement actions
- 5 policy recommendations
- 3 pension disqualifications.
Investigating complaints
The complaints the OIG investigates each year that come from either City employees or local residents, our first line of defense against fraud and corruption.
By far, the largest source of complaints in 2021 came from constituents or business owners in the city, which made up 54 percent of all complaints received last year.
Another 10 percent came from anonymous complainants, a valuable option for those who believe in integrity but may fear the consequences of reporting. Thinking about reporting a wrongdoing? Call us at (215) 686-1770, or report wrongdoing using our online form.
The need for transparency
In February 2021, the Office of the Mayor requested the OIG’s assistance in investigating the relationship between the Department of Public Health and Philly Fighting COVID (PFC), a local testing and vaccinating organization.
After conducting and concluding an investigation in under 30 days, the OIG published a report highlighting procedural deficiencies and a lack of transparency by the health department in their decision to engage PFC in their COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
Fostering partnerships
The OIG continues to foster beneficial relationships with our federal and local law enforcement agencies, as well as our partners in various City departments and government oversight agencies.
The OIG worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate and prosecute brothers Leo and Paul Dignam for defrauding and embezzling $269,000 in taxpayer dollars. Both pleaded guilty to federal charges and were sentenced in May 2021.
Outreach
In 2021, the OIG welcomed Deputy Inspector General for Public Safety Adam Geer to the department to continue the conversation around public safety and policing in the city. Geer has focused on connecting and building partnerships with leadership from various City agencies and stakeholders to increase police oversight and boost public trust in the fairness and efficacy of law enforcement in Philadelphia. One of Geer’s first initiatives was to advocate for reform of the City’s residency requirement for police officers to increase recruitment of the Philadelphia Police Department. To learn more, read Geer’s op-ed online.
Once again in 2021, our office’s results prove the enduring importance of our work. We are proud of the work we accomplished last year and are grateful for the help of our law enforcement and government oversight partners, integrity officers, and the City of Philadelphia’s constituents.
We are excited to keep working with you to continue advocating for honesty and integrity in City government. Interested in further details about our office’s stats? Learn more about the Office of the Inspector General, or find other resources online by visiting the OIG website.
