In 1994, auditors from the controller’s office attempted to conduct a thorough audit of the internal controls and procedures in place at the Houston Police Department’s Evidence Room but were denied access to certain records and property.

“Perhaps 280 boxes of evidence from 8,000 cases dating back to 1979 would not have remained undiscovered for a decade had the auditors been able to conduct the audit properly,” said Annise D. Parker, Houston City Controller. “It makes me very angry to know that evidence affecting the guilt or innocence of defendants was gathering dust for 10 years. This is an issue of justice.”

The scope of the 1994 audit was to examine all areas within the evidence room. Police department management, however, restricted auditor access to an examination of records of property authorized for transfer to either surplus or salvage operations. The auditors were not permitted to examine any other area. Former Houston City Controller George Greanias called the restrictions “excessive.” According to Greanias’ report, “procedures could have been, and should have been, developed by the department to allow for proper control over the property under its protection while still affording sufficient access by the auditors to allow them to continue with their review.”

“The controller’s office maintains the only independent audit division within city government. It is there to ferret out waste, fraud and mismanagement,” said Controller Parker. “We should always be allowed to perform this watchdog function. That is why I requested a ballot initiative for the November election.”

Proposition 3 would grant the city controller the right to conduct all types of internal audits, including operational and performance reviews of all city departments, agencies and programs. Houston is the only major city with an elected controller who does not have this authority.

Controller Parker joins Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal and others in saying it is time for a full-scale independent investigation of HPD’s procedures regarding evidence. “If there is anything the controller’s office can do to help, we’ll be there,” said Ms. Parker.