The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a Public Letter recommending that the new City administration reexamine the feasibility of increasing pay at New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (NOEMS) to increase staff and improve retention rates. Expanding staff would allow NOEMS to improve response times for urgent calls and to direct more service fees to the City rather than private companies.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter finding no evidence of cheating or bias in the New Orleans Police Department’s (NOPD) 2024 promotional exams for Captain and Major positions. While overall findings were announced in February 2025, this letter provides further details on the OIG’s investigation into anonymous allegations of cheating and bias. The letter also includes guidance for improving the NOPD’s promotional process to prevent misuse of the anonymous complaint system while preserving the integrity of the process.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter finding the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) and the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation (the Foundation) failed to conduct annual audits and sworn financial statements as required by law.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter finding the City’s policies and procedures for procurement during undeclared emergencies to be vague and inconsistent, leaving the process open to potential fraud, waste, and abuse.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter recommending the City of New Orleans (City) increase oversight of City funds disbursed to outside agencies. OIG auditors found that, despite a recent ordinance increasing oversight, the City still received limited information regarding millions of dollars in City money disbursed to outside agencies. The City’s 2025 adopted budget allocated approximately $123 million to these agencies.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter finding the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD)’s failure to report accurate crime statistics in accordance with state law has cost the City and its nonprofit partners at least $1.1 million, including grant money used to support crime victims. Due to the timing and frequency of crime-statistic reporting, the NOPD’s failure to comply with reporting requirements will continue to affect the amount of federal grant funding available to local organizations until at least the year 2031.
The New Orleans Office of Inspector General (OIG) has released a public letter recommending the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) begin using payroll integration software to continue preventing secondary employment violations while saving officer work hours. The letter includes findings of an OIG review of policies and procedures used by the NOPD and the Office of Police Secondary Employment (OPSE) for work outside of regular police shifts.
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.
A PILOT is one type of economic tax incentive, which are sometimes used by local governments to encourage private development projects that stimulate economic growth in a jurisdiction.2 In most PILOT agreements a public entity such as an industrial development board takes title to property in order to issue bonds, and leases the property back to the developer during the bond repayment period. Because the owner in title is a public entity, the property is exempt from property tax during the redevelopment period.3 However, developers may submit payments to local government entities to offset property tax losses and to pay for city services.4 These payments may equal the full value of the lost property taxes, or they may be lower, effectively providing a subsidy to the developer. Inspector General Ed Michel stated: “Transparent policies and procedures will reduce opportunities for fraud, waste, and abuse while ensuring efficient administration of the PILOT program and good stewardship of the City’s tax dollars.”
The Department of Property Management (DPM) is responsible for maintaining HVAC systems in all City buildings, with the exception of facilities operated by the New Orleans Public Library and the New Orleans Recreation Department. Over the past few years, there has been concern that excessive heat during the summer could negatively impact City operations. Isolated high-profile cases of HVAC failures at various public buildings heightened these concerns. Inspector General Ed Michel stated: “As New Orleans continues to experience extreme heat events, it is critical to the health and safety of citizens and City employees that HVAC systems in City buildings are working properly. While the OIG is encouraged the DPM has taken steps to improve operations by seeking maintenance contracts, the department must also work to mitigate damage through regular preventive maintenance.”
Copyright © 2022 New Orleans Office of Inspector General
Popular Pages
More Resources