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Memos & Reports (Investigations, Inspections, etc)

FY 2024 Reports & Memos (Investigation, Reviews, etc)

Cases closed in FY 2024
23-0099-C Investigative Informative Case Synopsis

The Office of Inspector General initiated an investigation into the alleged false claims and negligence in the carrying out of duties by the City’s Code Enforcement Division resulting in vandalism and the loss of personal property.

23-0080-I Allegation of Abuse of Time by City Employee

The Office of Inspector General received an anonymous complaint alleging a City employee is abusing their time and teleworking days to travel to vacation locations and is incorrectly reporting their time into the City time-sheet system, Kronos.

23-0036-C Investigative Informative Case Synopsis

The office of Inspector General received a complaint alleging that there are issues with the City of Albuquerque and the Office of Neighborhood Coordination’s interpretation of notification requirements to neighborhood associations and coalitions on different types of land development issues.

23-0030-I Allegation of parking permit misuse and improper time reporting

The Office of Inspector General received an anonymous complaint alleging an Environmental Health Department (EHD) employee (E1) is using an EHD department parking permit to park their personal vehicle at the Civic Plaza parking lot. The complainant also alleged that E1 may be committing time-reporting fraud by coming in late and leaving early.

23-0047-C Alleged false statements made through a complaint resulting in the harassment of a City employee for participation in a previous OIG investigation and the subsequent corrective action.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) initiated an investigation into the alleged false statements made through a complaint resulting in the harassment of a City employee for their participation in a previous OIG investigation and the subsequent corrective action. The purpose of the investigation was to substantiate or not substantiate, through the collection of sufficient evidence, the allegations of harassment or retaliation of the City employee for their participation in the OIG investigation.

22-0162-C Alleged Nonfeasance and Misrepresentation

The Office of Inspector General initiated an investigation into the alleged nonfeasance and misrepresentation of facts related to the use of unverified chemicals to sanitize City buses during the COVID-19 Pandemic and abuse of authority and undue influence, by a City Official, resulting in circumvention of City policies and the possibility of conflict of interest between a City Official and the vendor.

FY 2023 Reports & Memos (Investigation, Reviews, etc.)

Case closed in FY 2023
22-0168-C Abuse of Time

The Office of Inspector General received an anonymous complaint alleging a Family and Community employee is abusing time.

22-0176-C Investigative Informative Case Synopsis

The City’s Planning Department did not obtain an extension of time for the Chief Building Official to obtain the certified building official designation with the State of NM Construction Industries Division within 60 days as required by Article 13.

22-0163-C Animal Welfare Department's Waste of Resources

The Office of Inspector General received a complaint alleging a waste of city resources in the Animal Welfare Department. The complainant alleged that a supervisor, tasked with inventorying, ordering, and organizing supplies for the Animal Welfare Department authorized the disposal of brand-new, fully functional cat boxes.

22-0045-C Investigative Informative Case Synopsis

The Office of Inspector General received a series of complaints regarding the Animal Welfare Department and various violations of the Humane and Ethical Animals Rules and Treatment (HEART) Ordinance.

22-0119-C Investigative Informative Case Synopsis

The Office of Inspector General received information alleging 'I wish to report fraudulent activities by the City Parking Department officials as it relates to potential violations of local, state and federal Privacy Act.

22-0106-C Investigative Informative Case Synopsis

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an email complaint alleging the Planning Department Code Enforcement Division Deputy Director’s statement “The property owner is in compliance with the Integrated Development Ordinance” was dishonest, fraudulent, and abusive of the position. The OIG determined that the allegation contained elements of potential fraud, waste, or abuse and that it was appropriate for the OIG to conduct a fact-finding investigation.

22-0072-C Waste in City Government and Many Other Problems

The Office of Inspector General received a complaint alleging that an employee with the Department of Municipal Development was recently given a position that the employee is not qualified for and in which the employee does not possess the technical knowledge or education required for that position.

FY 2022 Reports & Memos (Investigation, Reviews, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2022
22-0004-C Information Services Committee

A complaint was received by the OIG that expressed several concerns regarding the Information Services Committee (ISC) and their compliance with the City Ordinance and the State of New Mexico Open Meetings Act.

22-0001-R Review of 311 Complaint Process

The City of Albuquerque (City) operates a 311 Communications Center where constituents can call in for information, report matters, or file complaints. All calls are documented in the CRM system. Calls requiring additional assistance are referred to the appropriate department and sometimes to the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG initiated a review to gain an understanding of the process utilized by the 311 Communications Center to determine if duplication of efforts by the City departments and the OIG can be mitigated while ensuring that all complaints of fraud, waste, or abuse are appropriately referred to the OIG for assessment and investigation.

22-0064-C Alleged Retaliation for Participating in an Investigation

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint alleging retaliation, in the form of reassignment to a different supervisor and requiring office relocation to a smaller space, as the result of participation in an investigation conducted by the OIG and a private investigation firm regarding time card fraud.

22-0022-C Aviation Department, Waste of City Resources

The Office of Inspector (OIG) received an anonymous complaint regarding two separate investigations into the same matter; one investigation being conducted by the City's OIG and the other being conducted by a private investigations firm. The complainant feels it is a waste of taxpayer money when the City has investigators.

22-0002-C Allegation of time card fraud in Aviation Finance and Warehouse

On January 7, 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an email complaint stating 'Time card fraud should be addressed at Aviation Department with Finance including Warehouse employees before it gets to media.' The OIG determined that the allegation contained potential fraud, waste, or abuse and that it was appropriate for the OIG to conduct a fact-finding investigation. The purpose of the investigation was to address the alleged time card fraud in the City of Albuquerque's (City) Aviation Finance and Warehouse Divisions.

21-0101 Report AWD Multiple Complaints

A news story published on December 20, 2021, alleged that that Animal Welfare Department (AWD) violated its own policies in the matter of the adoption of an intact dog to an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). On December 21, 2021, the OIG received an email defining numerous complaints regarding AWD. The email contained six (6) allegations of violations of City ordinances and abuse by the AWD.

21-0058 Open Space Time Card

An anonymous complaint was received through the Inspector General hotline regarding an employee at the Parks and Recreation Department allegedly committing Time Card Fraud.

21-0004-R AWD Review

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted a review into past investigations involving the Animal Welfare Department (AWD). The OIG looked at all AWD investigations from 2015 through 2021, focusing on the OIG’s observations, assessments and findings during each of the investigations. The purpose of this review was to try and determine if there were any trends or similar issues that continued to resurface.

21-0001 Policy Review

The City of Albuquerque (City) has many policies and procedures, some covering all departments and some that are department specific. The purpose of this review is to identify all policies and procedures, current and archived to be maintained for historical purposes.

FY 2021 Reports & Memos (Investigation, Reviews, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2021
Final No. 20-0010-I Senior Affairs

The Office of the Inspector General was provided with information regarding allegations of threats of physical harm, harassment, retaliation and discrimination made by a Supervisor at the Office of Senior Affairs (SA). In addition, the initial complainants stated that there was a conflict of interest issue and improper use of a Procurement card (P-Card) at SA.

Final No. 21-0002-R Animal Welfare Department Volunteers

A confidential complaint was forwarded to the Office of Inspector General in reference to three volunteers with the Animal Welfare Department (AWD). These volunteers are alleged to have been reported multiple times to the various managers and the Director with AWD, yet have been able to continue volunteering and negatively representing both the Department and City of Albuquerque.

OIG Corrective Actions Follow Up Report

In 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) began requesting responses from the City of Albuquerque Departments when findings and recommendations are made in OIG reports. The written responses include the department's planned corrective actions and where appropriate, date for achieving the planned actions. This process was implemented to further strengthen the procedures for resolutions of investigation findings and corrective actions on recommendations made. The purpose of this follow-up is to report on the progress made by departments in addressing the report findings and recommendations.

Final No. 20-0001-I Improper Personnel Action/Abuse of Position

The OIG conducted and completed investigation 19-0002-I “Beehive” which was approved on May 27, 2020. During the course of that investigation several other red flags were found along with similar complaints being brought to our attention. All had a common denominator, the Former Animal Welfare Department Director (AWD), D1. The decision was made to open a separate investigation to look into those issues.

Final No. 20-0005-I- Violation of Personnel Policies

The Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation regarding concerns that a Department of Municipal Development employee had been conducting personal business during work hours, including running a home health care business during work hours.

Final No. 19-0001-R Emprende Latino Review

The Office of Inspector General received a request to conduct a performance review of a contract the Economic Development Department had established with EmprendeLatino, LLC to support entrepreneurs in the Hispanic community. The organization had undergone a significant change in staffing and the requestor wanted to ensure that there were no performance problems as a result.

Final No. 19-0003-C Public Access TV

The Office of the Inspector General was provided with information regarding allegations with City of Albuquerque and possible fraud as it relates to the public access TV contract. The allegations involved the eligibility of the contractor to obtain the initial contract, property obtained and purchased with City funds as well as property being retained by the contractor, and the office/location used by the contractor.

Final No. 20-0009-I Animal Welfare Department Volunteer

A complaint was forwarded to the Office of the Inspector General in reference to a volunteer with the Animal Welfare Department. This volunteer is alleged to have been reported multiple times to the various managers and Directors within the Animal Welfare Department, yet has been able to continue volunteering and negatively representing both the Department and City.

Final No. 20-0003-I - Disputed Contract Pricing

The Office of Inspector General received information that a vendor was overcharging the City based on the price list the complainant had. Aviation employee, AV1 contacted the OIG stating that there was a situation regarding a vendor to which Aviation “piggybacked” off of for services. AV1 stated the State of New Mexico Purchasing Division awarded a Price Agreement off of a Federal, General Services Administration (GSA) schedule.

Final No. 20-0008-I Theft of City Property

The Office of Inspector General conducted an investigation based on information received regarding concerns that a twenty-foot (20') trailer was removed from the BioPark grounds and given to a local subcontractor. It is alleged that the trailer belonged to the City.

FY 2020 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2020
Final No. 19-0009-I - Environmental Health Time Reporting Fraud

The Office of the Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted a thorough review of the different forms of data available to determine the time an Environmental Health Department employee was present at work and the time being reported on the employee’s timecard. The complaint stated an employee was suspected of time reporting fraud and abuse of position in the Environmental Health Department.

Final No. 19-0002-I - Beehive

The Office of the Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted a thorough review of the contracts between the City of Albuquerque (COA) and Beehive Technology, LLC . According to the initial complaint, Beehive was being used as a front to pay a subcontractor, who previously had a contract with the COA under a different name, Organizational Change Management, LLC. (OCM). The allegation stated that OCM had reached the contract limit with the COA and is why the company name of Beehive was being utilized.

Final No. 19-0006-I - FINAL - Report of Investigation Animal Welfare - AMENDED.pdf

The Office of Inspector General received an anonymous compliant stating that the number of animals being euthanized by the Animal Welfare Department were being under reported. Complainant further states that the Animal Welfare Director and another AWD employee were removing animals that were killed from the software to make it appear they were never in the shelter.

Final No. 19-0040-C - Report of Investigation City Engineer

The Office of Inspector General received a complaint from an anonymous worker for the City of Albuquerque stating that one of the Planning Department's employees has been accused of abusing the authority of his position for the financial gain of his brother and possibly himself.

Final No. 19-0010-I Planning Department: Possible Fraud

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of Albuquerque, NM, conducted an investigation based on information received regarding concerns with the contractor the City's Planning Department, Code Enforcement Division uses for board up services. Concerns were brought to the OIG that the emergency board up contractor was being over-utilized by on particular Code Enforcement employee and that there may be possible collusion.

Final No. 18-0007 I Transit: Alleged Misuse of City Time

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque, NM conducted an investigation based on information received regarding a number of Transit employees traveling to the BYD plant in Lancaster, California to conduct bus assemble inspections for the City’s Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project. According to the complainant, a number of Transit employees may not have been going to the BYD plant and instead were using work time as a vacation.

19-0005-I HopeWorks: Better Way Program

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque received a complaint regarding "There's a Better Way" program, which was run by HopeWorks and funded by the City. HopeWorks is a nonprofit organization that provides services to people experiencing (or at risk of) homelessness in Albuquerque.

19-0003-I Aviation: Alleged Abuse of Position; Unethical Conduct

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted an investigation based on information received from a complaint regarding a police officer for the Aviation Department. According to the complaint, the police officer was accused of committing a security violation when accessing a particular gate which grants employees access to the airport grounds.

FY 2019 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2019
06-27-2019 #19-0001-I Aviation Department

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque conducted an investigation based on information received from a complaint regarding an employee with the Aviation Department (AD). According to the complaint, an AD Associate Director (AV-1) submitted a contract proposal for the job he was currently overseeing as an AD employee.

FY 2018 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2018
6-6-18 #OIG 18-0001-R Report of Inspection: ART Project

The OIG conducted an inspection of the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project related procurements to include the construction of the nine-mile ART corridor on Central Avenue and the purchase of the electric buses from BYD. The inspection disclosed there were several opportunities to improve processes within City government.

4-25-18 #OIG 18-0006-I Report of Investigation: Animal Welfare Department (Possible Retaliation)

The OIG conducted an investigation based on information indicating possible retaliation and termination of an AWD employee. The information received indicated that employees who had cooperated with a previous OIG investigation of AWD were being suspended, demoted or placed on a Performance Improvement Plans. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if the actions against the terminated employee were retaliatory in nature.

FY 2017 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2017.

6-29-2017 #I17-102 Report of Investigation: Animal Welfare Department

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque, NM, conducted an investigation involving allegations made by several employees of the Animal Welfare Department, concerning policy, processes and leadership related issues. The Report of Investigation includes the allegations, as well as results of reviews from previous investigative reports, policies, and other AWD documents, as well as State law and City ordinances. The report also includes input and perspective from the AWD Director and Associate Director.

3-16-2017 Review #16-204 Review of I-9 “Employee Eligibility Verification” Form Handling Processes

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque, NM, conducted a review of processes involving City handling of I-9 “Employee Eligibility Verification” Forms. An I-9 form was reported missing, so this review examined the policies, processes and federal guidance on handling the forms. Specifically, the review was conducted to determine the circumstances that led to the disappearance of the form, and how to improve the process to prevent future occurrences. The Department of Human Resources was able to identify vulnerabilities in the process and confusion in federal guidelines that enabled process improvements and policy clarification, thereby reducing future risk of this occurring again.

02-24-2017 Review #17-101 Review of RFP Process - APD OBCS

The Office of Inspector General for the City of Albuquerque, NM, conducted a thorough review of processes involving the procurement of an On-Body Camera System (OBCS) for the Albuquerque Police Department, at the request of the Chief Administrative Officer, CABQ. Specifically, the review included the period before the development and advertisement of the Request for Proposals (RFP), to understand the criteria used to establish a requirement to procure a new OBCS, as well as the writing of the RFP, and the subsequent selection of members for the Ad Hoc Selection Committee and finally, the selection process of the vendors.

3-24-2017 Report of Oversight APD Admin Investigation

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of Albuquerque, NM, conducted oversight of the outside investigation of allegations made by a former Albuquerque Police Department Evidence Technician, that certain videos were altered and deleted. The Oversight was conducted per City Council Resolution 16-138. The Report of Oversight not only includes the results of the oversight of the investigation, but also the proactive efforts of the OIG to oversee the selection process of the outside investigator by the City of Albuquerque.

6-6-2017 Memorandum of Investigation: ACH Payment Fraud

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the City of Albuquerque, NM, coordinated with the Administration and City Attorney regarding a fraudulent scheme perpetrated against the City and resulting in a loss of $420,117, to the taxpayers. The administrative investigation was conducted by a private investigative firm under contract to the City and a joint criminal investigation was initiated by the Albuquerque Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. This memorandum documents the efforts and activities of the OIG.

FY 2016 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2016.

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FY 2015 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2015.

06-25-2015 Case # 15-202 Donations

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received a complaint concerning the Department of Family and Community Services. The complainant expressed concerns that the Health and Social Services Centers -- namely John Marshall and East Central -- were not donating items to the community, as they should, and that center employees were keeping some of the items.

06-10-2015 Case # 14-207 Albuquerque Police Department Body-Worn Camera Procurement

The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) was contacted by Councilor Dan Lewis on April 25, 2014, requesting an investigation. Councilor Lewis requested that the OIG look into the actions of the former Albuquerque Police Chief to determine whether or not the Former Chief violated the City’s Conflict of Interest Ordinance in his dealings with TASER International, Inc. (“TASER”). In addition, Councilor Lewis asked that the OIG investigate whether the Former Chief used his influence to assist TASER in its dealings with the City.

12-18-2014 Case # 14-205 Golf Concessions

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an investigation concerning several issues involving the Concessionaires at the City of Albuquerque’s four (4) golf courses. This investigation was predicated upon a complaint brought to our office by an individual seeking protection under the Whistleblower Ordinance.

FY 2014 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2014.

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FY 2013 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2013

FY 2013 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2013

FY 2012 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2012.

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FY 2011 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2011.

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FY 2010 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2010.

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FY 2009 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2009.

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FY 2008 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2008.

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FY 2007 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2007.

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FY 2006 Reports & Memos (Investigations, Inspections, etc.)

Cases closed in FY 2006.

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