Office of the Inspector General

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is the city's internal investigative office responsible for rooting out fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct in city government. It is part of the executive branch, not an independent elected office, and is separate from the Board of Ethics, which enforces ethics and campaign-finance law, and from the City Controller, who audits finances.^[1]

1 History

The OIG was reportedly created in 1985 under Mayor W. Wilson Goode. Mayor Michael Nutter later issued an executive order to strengthen its authority, as CBS Philadelphia reported.^[2] Alexander F. DeSantis, who joined the office in 2012 and served as deputy and first deputy, was appointed Inspector General by Mayor James Kenney in 2020, as reported in May 2020. The office's website continues to list him in that role as of October 2026.

2 Powers and jurisdiction

The OIG has authority under the Home Rule Charter and executive orders to investigate and audit departments, agencies, commissions and boards under the Mayor's jurisdiction, and individuals or companies doing business with the city or receiving city funds. It can subpoena records and interview witnesses in administrative matters, and it refers evidence of crimes to prosecutors such as the District Attorney and the U.S. Attorney's Office. It does not generally have jurisdiction over City Council, the courts or independent row offices; see Philadelphia Row Offices. Authorities such as the Philadelphia Parking Authority and the Philadelphia Housing Authority have their own inspectors general or oversight.

3 How investigations work

The OIG receives complaints from the public and city employees, from hotlines and from referrals. Staff investigators, attorneys and auditors review contracts, payroll, procurement and timekeeping. Outcomes can include recommendations for discipline, policy changes, recovery of money, contractor debarment or referral for prosecution. The office publishes annual reports summarizing cases, recoveries and recommendations. Matters involving procurement overlap with the Procurement Department; see Understanding City Contracts and Bids.

4 Reporting wrongdoing

Anyone, including employees and members of the public, can report suspected fraud, waste or misconduct by phone at (215) 686-1770, by email at oig@phila.gov, or through the online form on the OIG's website. Reports may be made anonymously, though providing contact information helps investigators. City policy prohibits retaliation against employees who report in good faith. See How to Report Corruption or Misconduct.

5 Limits and debate

Because the Inspector General is appointed by the Mayor and the office was created by executive order, observers have debated whether it can investigate the mayor's own administration with enough independence, and whether it should have its own Charter protection. Supporters note that its credibility has rested on professional staff and public reporting. Jurisdictional overlap with the Board of Ethics prompted public disagreement in the Nutter era, as reported by the Inquirer.^[3]

See also: Conflicts of Interest and Pay-to-Play, Good Government Groups, Mayor's Cabinet and Offices.

References

1. Philadelphia Office of the Inspector General, "What we do" and annual reports (phila.gov/ig).
2. CBS Philadelphia, "Nutter's Executive Order Bolsters City's Anti-Corruption Office"; Office of the Inspector General annual reports, 2009-2014.
3. Philadelphia Inquirer, "Ethics Board to Nutter and Inspector General: Get off our turf."