The report, issued Nov. 24, outlines steps taken since E. Barrett Prettyman took the helm of the agency last January.

The Inspector General’s Office opened 168 investigations in fiscal 1998, more than five times the number of cases that were open at the beginning of the year. Many of the IG’s investigations this year became the stuff of headlines and water-cooler talk, such as the investigation that revealed 13 percent of 911 calls were never answered by emergency operators.

The IG’s investigation dubbed "Operation Free Ride" resulted in the convictions this year of the former head of the D.C. Office of Taxicabs and 10 motor vehicle inspectors on charges of accepting bribes.

Under Prettyman’s leadership, the office also issued 23 audit reports on city agencies that could save the District $2.8 million. In addition, outside contract audits of Medicaid overpayments could save the District an additional $9.65 million.

"Less tangible, but no less important, has been the change I have witnessed over the months I have been here in the attitude of those within this office," Prettyman said in the report. "The OIG’s employees now approach their tasks with an energy and enthusiasm that was missing a year ago."

Prettyman got the office’s original budget of $5.7 million increased to $6.4 million to support hiring 32 new employees. At the beginning of the year, the office had only 28 employees. The new hires included 13 new investigators and five new auditors.

The department also made major purchases that included a minivan and cameras to aid in surveillance and investigations. The department also bought 30 handguns and 25 body armor vests.

At Prettyman’s request, D.C. City Council passed legislation that conferred police powers on the office’s criminal investigators. This allows investigators to carry firearms while on the job, make arrests and execute search warrants issued with probable cause.

When the IG’s office was established in 1985, it was attached to the mayor’s office and its function was similar to that of the city auditor’s office, which is the city council’s investigative arm. In 1995, the financial control board made the IG independent from the mayor’s office.

The IG’s office is not required to issue an annual report, but Prettyman said he has requested that Congress pass a law requiring the office to issue annual reports.

Prettyman said he intends to step down as head of the agency this spring and return to the private sector.

"I hope and expect that the day after I leave office will be no different than the day before," he wrote. "I am extremely proud of the people in this office and what they have accomplished over the past year, and I believe the residents of this city should be, too."

Copyright 1998, The Common Denominator