Read on Twitter
The biennial performance audit for 2018-2019 is out for the Baltimore Police Department https://comptroller.baltimorecity.gov/files/bpd-perf-audit06-2020pdf /1
Here's the upshot: auditors looked at three service areas. In 2018, the BPD did not meet targets in two of three area. But the auditors couldn't validate one target because the BPD lacked documentation. In 2019, they met none of the three targets. /2
Of particular concern is this finding which says the police department does a crap job with... security. /3
What kid of security? The kind that keep new recruits from cheating and/or accessing data systems they shouldn't. This audit came on the heels of the city council approving the FY21 budget, which just approved a little over $20m for 167 positions, audit findings be damned. /4
This audit lists 10 previous audit findings dating back to 2011. Of the 10, two are implemented. The remaining 80% are either partially implemented or not implemented. The BPD's response is basically, that was the last guy's fault. /5
These are not small issues either. These are, for example, being able to verify the amount of time spent on community policing, output metrics v outcome measures being used, recruits hired, lack of documentation. /6
But don't worry, were going to spend $354,000 on data analysts for...things...even though we haven't cleared our audit findings. Details in this thread. /7 https://twitter.com/melissa_schober/status/1269015790994575362?s=19
This is exactly and absolutely what makes me furious about Baltimore, the BPD, and the ham-handed oversight of the city's budget. We are paying auditors and as thin as the audits under Pratt have been, they've notes serious and substantial issues with the BPD. /8
Not one-off issues. Not an oddity or two. But a police department that four fiscal years ago couldn't produce records to say how much time it spends on community policing. Community policing you guys, everyone's favorite kind of policing. The buzzword that gets you grants. /9
And worse still, and more maddening, is that the BPD take no responsibility. Apparently the age of the findings -- mind, from 2017 - make them too old to correct?!?! We have an entire consent monitoring team but lack "history, details, or context"? /10
What this says is that the BPD is unable to address 4 yr old audit findings despite consuming $2 billion over the same period of time. The enormity of the issue and the utter lack of urgency with which it is addressed is civic gaslighting on a massive scale. /11
How can those in political power listen to the need for more, more, and still more - always more - without asking why? This isn't punishment; it is like 1/16th of a step toward what charitably be called governance. /12
The continuing and abiding refusal to look at the utter conflagration that is the BPD is very near the top of the list when I argue with husband about why I want to move. /13
Our city council seems largely disinterested in establishing an institutional memory for a police department so inept or unwilling. Failure to clear audit findings - to demand their clearance - is failure to be responsible with the civic purse. It is a moral dereliction. /end
Addendum: note that in 5, above, the BPD say they'll fix the general issues related to audits - better policies, fiscal oversight, attention to metrics - in FY21 but it is "budget dependent." Meaning, we need more money to fix our existing issues not being able to tracks funds.
Addendum 2: don't tweet after midnight because typos. Egads.
