The Police Commission and Community Police Review Agency Audit Wins National Recognition!

The Office of the City Auditor is a member of the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA). It is a professional organization committed to supporting and improving local government auditing through advocacy, collaboration, education, and training while upholding and promoting the highest standards of professional ethics. Every year ALGA recognizes auditing excellence through its Knighton Awards Program. The Knighton Award annually recognizes the best performance audit reports of the year using the Exceptional and Distinguished categories. Audit shops compete against peer shops of similar size, for this award.

In 2020, our Office was awarded a Distinguished Knighton Award for a medium size audit shop for the Police Commission and Community Police Review Agency Audit. Judges found this audit to be especially timely and impactful noting, “The report not only examines specific concerns of citizens and City leaders, but also acknowledges the tumultuous climate surrounding policing in America. The audit provided a thorough and well documented look at issues facing the Oakland Police Commission and the Community Police Review Agency, including the complex dynamic present between those groups and other offices within the City. Recommendations were specific, clear, and effectively addressed fundamental causes of the issues identified.”

In 2016, our Office received the exemplary Knighton Award (Medium Shop category) for its Performance Audit of the City of Oakland Rent Adjustment Program. Judges chose this report because it was a direct response to a dire community need. “Residents were concerned about the soaring costs of housing as Oakland was one of the most expensive rental markets in the country. Landlords were frustrated because of increasing costs related to compliance requirements. The Auditors in the City of Oakland scoped this audit to directly address the concerns of residents and to urge the City to respond to this need.”