Message from Inspector General Amy Kurland

In December, 2007, I left the U.S. Attorney's Office after 24 years as a prosecutor to become Philadelphia's Inspector General.  I accepted Mayor Nutter's appointment because I believe that the Inspector General's office can make a difference in the fight against corruption in City government.  As a federal prosecutor I saw corruption in many departments in the City.  But I also saw many, many honest and hardworking city employees who were victimized by the perception that Philadelphia is corrupt.  As a federal prosecutor, I could only do so much.  I could help remove the wrongdoers from the City, but I couldn't change the system that allowed the wrongdoing to continue.  As Inspector General, with your help, I believe we can make a difference.

The Mayor has asked only one thing of me - to work hard to find wrongdoing in the City and to expose it.  That is the mission of our office - uncovering corruption, fraud, misconduct and waste by those in City government and by those doing business with the City.

Corruption and fraud paint an ugly picture of Philadelphia.  And I believe that if we work together to root out corruption and fraud, we show the people of Philadelphia that we can police ourselves.  We can improve City government with more honest employees, better city services and more efficient government, but above all we can instill a sense of pride and trust on the part of the citizens we all serve.  And by policing ourselves, we can give confidence to hardworking employees and to honest businesses that everyone in Philadelphia competes on a level playing field

To accomplish these goals, I am asking for your help.  If you see corruption, if you see fraud, if you see dishonest practices, tell us.  Don't accept it silently as "the way business is done in Philadelphia." If your colleagues or supervisors are using their positions improperly, they are tarnishing City government and they are tarnishing you.  If companies or individuals are attempting to gain an unfair advantage in City business, we all suffer. You have to power to change things;  you have the power to make a difference by coming forward with your knowledge. 

We can work together to make our City better by making our government as clean and honest as possible.  I embrace this challenge, and hope you'll join me.

                                                                        Amy L. Kurland

                                                                        Inspector General