City manager: Audit to help MPD achieve next level of success

The city of Maricopa has contracted with an auditing firm to perform a management review of the Maricopa Police Department. Citygate Associates, LLC, will be in Maricopa next week to conduct onsite interviews.

“This audit is the first step in improving the services our police department provides to our city,” said City Manager Brenda Fischer. “I asked Citygate to analyze the systems and practices in our police department and make recommendations on how to modify and improve those systems. Those recommendations, when implemented, will take our police department to the next level.”

On Sept. 20, the Maricopa City Council approved a $42,000 contract with Citygate and the audit is anticipated to take approximately four months to complete.

The city asked Citygate to review:

• Evaluate and assess the current leadership and management practices for operating the Maricopa Police Department. At a high level of detail, determine that the Department has staff assigned appropriately.
• Evaluate the organizational structure to ensure that the police department is structured in alignment with best practices.
• Evaluate the internal affairs investigation process and determine its alignment with best practices.
• Evaluate disciplinary procedures to clearly define protocol.
• Evaluate the professional standards of conduct and performance of the dolice department.
• Audit and evaluate the criminal investigations division (using complaints from the public as examples of the citizen complaint process).
• Establish best practices for management systems to limit liability and efficiently manage the department and detect unethical behavior and misconduct.
• Involve residents and key community leaders to obtain feedback about the Police Department’s services.

In addition to those steps, Citygate will review:

• Current departmental policies and procedures in which officer involvement in violation of law or policy is alleged or suspected.
• Current leadership, management and communication systems and practices.
• Current management control systems to manage and limit liability and to effectively manage the department.

The scope of work Citygate will perform is an audit of the processes and policies the department follows. This audit is not a criminal audit and is not an investigation of individual employees.

Fischer said she is committed to addressing any illegal or inappropriate activity that is discovered through this process: “If the auditors discover any inappropriate or illegal conduct, they will bring it to my attention immediately. I would then seek the assistance of another law enforcement agency to investigate those matters.

“I want any and every opportunity for improvement and inappropriate activity to be uncovered through this process. If anything is brought to light and verified as factual, I will address it.”

While onsite next week, Citygate will be interviewing City Council members, community members, department directors, police department leadership and employees. 

Fischer said this audit is not just about finding out what things need to be corrected; it also is about what the department does well. “This audit will identify our strengths, too. We have an outstanding group of men and women who protect and serve our community. I hope the results of this review also recognize what we do well so we continue those practices.”

The community is encouraged to participate in this process through a web-based survey that will be on the city’s website, www.maricopa-az.gov, beginning Monday. The survey will garner public opinion about the department and its services. The survey will remain online through the end of November. It includes an area for comments and contact information.

As the audit begins, the police department is experiencing a change in leadership. Police Chief Patrick Melvin is retiring effective Oct. 28.

Fischer outlined her plan for filling this vital leadership position: “The police chief is one of the most important positions in a City. Our city deserves the very best employees at all levels so I’m conducting a national recruitment to fill this vital position. That process will include citizen involvement.”

Fischer said due to the timing of the audit and Melvin’s retirement, she intends to hire an Interim Police Chief. 

“I don’t want to start the police chief recruitment until the audit is completed. This is so we have time to complete the audit and recruit someone who is best suited to implement the resulting recommendations. I anticipate starting the recruitment process right after the first of the year and having a new Chief on board by mid-year.” 

The interim police chief will not be a candidate for the position. However, he will be charged with seeing the audit through to completion and beginning the implementation of the audit’s recommendations. 

The department has also been approved to participate in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) process. The city passed the mock interview phase and is preparing for an accreditation team visit.

“As I stated previously, we have a lot of great people working with the department, but there is always room for improvement,” Fischer said. “The audit, combined with the Interim Police Chief selection and the CALEA process, is moving our department in the right direction.”

For questions about the audit or the transition process, email [email protected].