Auditors from the City Controller's Office conducting a surprise petty cash audit at the Houston Police Department today found that up to $23,000 of $25,000 in petty cash funds are missing and unaccounted for.

HPD immediately began an apparent criminal investigation of the civilian employee who is the petty cash custodian. However, auditors from the City Controller's Office remained on the premises in order to complete the audit. An audit is considered complete when documentation for the missing funds or assurance from HPD is received that the money is in fact missing. Surprise audits of petty cash funds are standard so that there is no opportunity for falsification of documentation or substitution of funds.

City Controller Sylvia R. Garcia said, "Auditing standards require that the City Controller cooperate with the district attorney, which we will be glad to do. Moreover, we hope to partner with HPD in its investigation."

HPD has the largest petty cash allowance of any City department.