U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE

POLICE HIRING SUPPLEMENT GRANT TO THE CITY OF

WATSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

CALIFORNIA

GR-90-98-016

APRIL 1998

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division, completed an audit of a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance, to the City of Watsonville Police Department (WPD), California. The WPD received a grant of $180,969 to hire two additional police officers under the Police Hiring Supplement (PHS) program. The purpose of the grant was to enhance community policing efforts.

Generally, the WPD properly managed the PHS grant:

- Costs charged to the grants were in accordance with grant requirements. As of September 30, 1997, the WPD had requested reimbursement of about 50 percent of the allowable costs for the PHS grant.

- Budgeted funds for police services increased and the number of officers budgeted remained at the level of FY 1993, the year before the PHS grant. In addition, the WPD appeared to be making a good faith effort to fill officer vacancies timely.

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

However, the WPD violated some grant conditions:

- The WPD did not submit one required Progress Report timely.

- The WPD did not submit three of the 16 required quarterly Financial Status Reports timely.

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