U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES

GRANTS TO THE INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA POLICE DEPARTMENT

AWARD NUMBERS 95-DL-BX-0018 AND 95-CC-WX-0429

Audit Report Number GR-50-98-005

January 1998

AUDIT RESULTS

The Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division, has completed an audit of two grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), to the Indianapolis, Indiana Police Department (Indianapolis). Indianapolis received grants of $1,330,074 to hire or rehire 18 additional sworn police officers under the Phase I program, $1,950,000 to hire or rehire 26 officers under the Accelerated Hiring, Education, and Deployment (AHEAD) program, supplemented by the Universal Hiring Program (UHP). Indianapolis also received a MORE grant of $301,358; however, this was returned to the COPS office unused. The purpose of the additional officers is to enhance community policing efforts. Generally, Indianapolis properly managed the COPS grants:

- Costs charged to the grants were in accordance with grant requirements. As of September 30, 1997, Indianapolis had requested reimbursement of about 57 percent of the allowable costs for the Phase I grant, and 84 percent of the allowable costs for the AHEAD grant.

- Budgeted funds for police services increased while the number of officers budgeted remained at the level before the first grant was awarded. In addition, Indianapolis appeared to be making a good faith effort to fill officer vacancies timely.

- Funds provided under the grants were used to enhance Indianapolis's community policing efforts. The number of officers performing community policing activities increased by the number of officers funded under the grants.

However, Indianapolis violated some grant conditions:

- The Department Initial Report to the COPS office did not accurately state the number of budgeted sworn officers. Also, the Officer Progress Reports, one Annual Department Report, and several Financial Status Reports were not submitted timely. In addition, two Financial Status Reports were not filed at all.

#####