Letter  OIG Bulletin, October 2021: Letter from Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha

Date:	10/25/2021
Organization:	Office of the Inspector General
Referenced Sources:	The OIG is pleased to announce the publication of the October 2021, OIG Bulletin, Vol. 2, #3-4

The Office of the Inspector General Celebrates 40 Years

Greetings:

It is my pleasure to introduce a special double issue of the OIG Bulletin commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This Bulletin traces the Office’s evolution over four decades and recognizes the important work that the OIG has accomplished in fighting public fraud, waste and abuse in Massachusetts.

In 1981, the Office of the Inspector General began its mission to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in the expenditure of public funds with a focus on public procurement and construction. Our early work led to legislative reforms in these areas, most notably the enactment of the Uniform Procurement Act, also known as Chapter 30B, which governs the acquisition and disposition of supplies, services and real property by cities, towns and other local governmental bodies. The Office continues to do important educational and oversight work regarding public procurement today. Now, however, our work encompasses much more.

We conduct investigations into a range of criminal matters. Over the years, OIG investigations have uncovered misuse of government resources, leadership failures, bribery, extortion, larceny, embezzlement, violations of employment and retirement rules, misuse of public positions for personal gain, and maladministration. This work has led to criminal charges and civil settlements, as well as policy changes and state laws that address misconduct in government.

In addition to our investigations, which detect fraud, waste and abuse of public resources after it occurs, we also seek to prevent such misuse and malfeasance from happening in the first place through our educational initiatives. Our Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official (MCPPO) program started in 1997 with one general seminar. Since that time, the MCPPO program has grown to offer a number of courses ranging from beginner-level classes about public procurement to topics including cybersecurity, design and construction planning, diversity and inclusion in procurement, responsibilities of members of public boards and commissions, effective leadership and more. Over 24 years, we’ve provided training to thousands of public employees. In fact, we trained over 5,000 students in 2020, and we look forward to welcoming many more.

We also pursue civil recoveries for jurisdictions that have been victims of fraud, waste or abuse. In conjunction with the state Attorney General’s Office, we recover public funds that have been lost to fraud, waste and abuse, and we put that money back into the accounts of local jurisdictions.

We hope you enjoy this special double issue, which gives us the opportunity to highlight the important contributions the OIG has made to the Commonwealth and the staff members who have worked tirelessly to promote public integrity in Massachusetts. In this issue, you will find articles about the history of the Office and the MCPPO program, profiles of the four Massachusetts Inspectors General, summaries of significant OIG investigations and legislative achievements, statements from individuals who have contributed to the Office over the last 40 years and more. I am very grateful to all current and former OIG employees and IG Council members and designees who contributed to this content.

In the next issue of the Bulletin in 2022, we will return to our usual format. As always, thank you for your commitment to integrity in government, and please do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Glenn A. Cunha