U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

 

Audit Report

 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

Grant to the Carthage, Mississippi, Police Department

Grant No. 95-CF-WX-3561

 

GR-40-98-023

 

September 1998

 

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

The Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division, has completed an audit of the grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), to the Carthage, Mississippi, Police Department (Carthage PD). The Carthage PD received a $59,014 grant, No. 95-CF-WX-3561, under the Funding Accelerated for Smaller Towns (FAST) program, to hire one additional officer. The purpose of the additional officer is to enhance community policing efforts.

The Carthage PD charged costs to the grant that were not in accordance with grant conditions. Specifically, the Carthage PD claimed reimbursement for:

  • $17,801 salary paid in excess of the entry level salary; and
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  • $15,365 overtime paid which was not authorized under the grant.
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    Also, one of four community leaders we interviewed stated the Carthage PD could take steps to improve relations with the youth of the city.

    These items are discussed in the Findings and Recommendations section of the report. Our scope and methodology appear in Appendix II.

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