U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES

GRANT TO THE NEW MELLE, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT

AWARD NUMBER 96-CF-WX-0028

Audit Report Number GR-50-98-001

November 13, 1997

AUDIT RESULTS

The Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division, has completed an audit of a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), to the New Melle Missouri Police Department (New Melle). New Melle received $481,412 to hire or rehire five sworn police officers under the COPS Funding Accelerated for Smaller Towns (FAST) program and supplemental Universal Hiring Program (UHP).

The purpose of the grant was to enhance community policing efforts. Since the grant's inception, the number of officers performing community policing activities has increased by the number of positions funded under the awards. New Melle was making a good faith effort to fill grant-funded positions in a timely manner and, had taken steps to retain these officers at the end of the grant period. We noted that New Melle's share of the COPS FAST costs were paid from the Village of New Melle's (Village) general revenue account and payment did not affect the level of funds already budgeted for law enforcement. However, our audit disclosed the following:

- Grant awards were $63,087 greater than necessary.

- $16,343 was used to pay for salaries and positions in excess of grant limitations.

- Officer Progress Reports were not submitted for 6 of the 12 officers hired in 1996, 2 of 5 Financial Status Reports were submitted to the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) late, and program costs were inaccurately reported on the Financial Status Reports.

#####