The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announces a new initiative to ensure effective operations of the City’s Department of Safety and Permits (DSP).

This OIG initiative will foster effective DSP practices and develop methods to improve efficiency, boost accountability, and lessen the potential for corruption at this essential City agency.

Over the course of the past decade, the OIG and partnering agencies have investigated numerous instances of fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement within DSP. These investigations have led to 19 arrests, indictments, and resignations of DSP employees. These continuing patterns indicate the agency is facing systemic internal failures. Though the DSP has made significant improvements through additional hiring, faster permit processes, and an outside consultant evaluation, the OIG must ensure successful operations of this critical City agency.

This new initiative will identify and mitigate these issues by assigning OIG personnel to DSP offices. Assignment of OIG personnel will allow for real-time review and assessment of DSP processes for permitting and inspection. This unprecedented move is being enacted to improve public trust following multiple OIG investigations into improper actions by DSP employees.