UNIFORM SERVICES BUREAU

Michigan Office of the
Auditor General
Thomas H. McTavish, C.P.A.
Auditor General

EXECUTIVE DIGEST #5514101
UNIFORM SERVICES BUREAU

INTRODUCTION
This report, issued in June 2002, contains the results of our performance audit of the Uniform Services Bureau (USB), Michigan Department of State Police (MSP).

AUDIT PURPOSE
This performance audit was conducted as part of the constitutional responsibility of the Office of the Auditor General. Performance audits are conducted on a priority basis related to the potential for improving effectiveness and efficiency.

BACKGROUND
USB's primary responsibilities include maintaining a road patrol; responding to citizen complaints; and formulating and implementing plans for cooperating with local public safety agencies for the purposes of prevention and discovery of crimes, apprehension of criminals, and preservation of law and order throughout the State.

USB divides the State into 7 districts, which are comprised of 63 posts and 1 team. USB also includes the Special Operations Division and the Motor Carrier Division. The Special Operations Division provides support services to all public safety agencies in the State. These include aviation, field support, operations, traffic, and prevention services. The audit did not include the Motor Carrier Division, which we audit separately.

During fiscal year 2000-01, USB troopers drove 8,323,800 road patrol miles; assisted 77,258 motorists; investigated 270,357 complaints and 36,657 motor vehicle accidents; and issued 281,023 hazardous traffic citations, 77,010 nonhazardous traffic citations, and 12,935 operating under the influence of liquor citations.

As of September 30, 2001, USB (excluding the Motor Carrier Division) had 1,922 employee positions filled. This included 1,616 enlisted positions, 252 civilian positions, and 54 contractual positions. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2000 and September 30, 2001, USB (excluding the Motor Carrier Division) expended $169.2 million and $179.0 million, respectively.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of USB's Special Operations Division in identifying and implementing programs to address emerging public safety issues.

Conclusion: We concluded that USB's Special Operations Division was effective in identifying and implementing programs to address emerging public safety issues.

Noteworthy Accomplishments: MSP has taken a leading role in the effort to locate Michigan's missing children. The Prevention Services Section, part of USB's Special Operations Division, is responsible for maintaining Michigan's Missing Children Information Clearinghouse. Through the implementation of advanced technology (Technology to Recover Abducted Kids [TRAK] and Missing Kids 100,000) and partnerships (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, United States Postal Service, and Amber Alert of Michigan), the Clearinghouse assists public safety agencies in conducting missing children investigations.

TRAK is a state-of-the-art computer system that assists public safety agencies by electronically producing and instantaneously distributing color fliers of missing children. TRAK shares information on missing children with the general public, schools, businesses, and other state and federal agencies within minutes.

The Missing Kids 100,000 program, sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, allows the Clearinghouse to place missing child photographs and information on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Interpol web site.

The Eagle Eye/Child Net Program is a partnership between the United States Postal Service and the Clearinghouse that utilizes postal carriers to watch for missing children. Postal carriers are provided a missing child flier that enables them to watch for the missing child while they are on their normal delivery routes.

Amber Alert of Michigan is a not-for-profit agency that is dedicated to act as a liaison between public safety agencies and the media, to quickly disseminate information on an endangered, missing child to the public. Working with Amber Alert of Michigan is the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Michigan Sheriffs Association, and MSP.

When MSP is notified of a child's disappearance through any of these systems, all the programs available through the Clearinghouse are activated. By quickly disseminating information on the endangered missing child case, MSP takes a leading role in efforts to recover the child swiftly and safely.

Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of USB's field operations in providing public safety services.

Conclusion: We concluded that USB's field operations were effective in providing public safety services.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Uniform Services Bureau. Our audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included such tests of the records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.

Our methodology included the testing of records primarily covering the period October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2001. We conducted a preliminary review of USB's operations to gain an understanding of the activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit. This included discussions with staff regarding their functions and responsibilities and review of program and financial records.

PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
MSP had complied with 5 of the 6 prior audit recommendations. The other recommendation is no longer applicable.

Full Audit Report - #5514101 - UNIFORM SERVICES BUREAU

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This page was created on June 6, 2002.


INTRODUCTION This report, issued in June 2002, contains the results of our performance audit of the Uniform Services Bureau (USB), Michigan Department of State Police (MSP).

AUDIT PURPOSE This performance audit was conducted as part of the constitutional responsibility of the Office of the Auditor General. Performance audits are conducted on a priority basis related to the potential for improving effectiveness and efficiency.

BACKGROUND USB's primary responsibilities include maintaining a road patrol; responding to citizen complaints; and formulating and implementing plans for cooperating with local public safety agencies for the purposes of prevention and discovery of crimes, apprehension of criminals, and preservation of law and order throughout the State. USB divides the State into 7 districts, which are comprised of 63 posts and 1 team. USB also includes the Special Operations Division and the Motor Carrier Division. The Special Operations Division provides support services to all public safety agencies in the State. These include aviation, field support, operations, traffic, and prevention services. The audit did not include the Motor Carrier Division, which we audit separately. During fiscal year 2000-01, USB troopers drove 8,323,800 road patrol miles; assisted 77,258 motorists; investigated 270,357 complaints and 36,657 motor vehicle accidents; and issued 281,023 hazardous traffic citations, 77,010 nonhazardous traffic citations, and 12,935 operating under the influence of liquor citations. As of September 30, 2001, USB (excluding the Motor Carrier Division) had 1,922 employee positions filled. This included 1,616 enlisted positions, 252 civilian positions, and 54 contractual positions. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2000 and September 30, 2001, USB (excluding the Motor Carrier Division) expended $169.2 million and $179.0 million, respectively.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of USB's Special Operations Division in identifying and implementing programs to address emerging public safety issues. Conclusion: We concluded that USB's Special Operations Division was effective in identifying and implementing programs to address emerging public safety issues. Noteworthy Accomplishments: MSP has taken a leading role in the effort to locate Michigan's missing children. The Prevention Services Section, part of USB's Special Operations Division, is responsible for maintaining Michigan's Missing Children Information Clearinghouse. Through the implementation of advanced technology (Technology to Recover Abducted Kids [TRAK] and Missing Kids 100,000) and partnerships (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, United States Postal Service, and Amber Alert of Michigan), the Clearinghouse assists public safety agencies in conducting missing children investigations. TRAK is a state-of-the-art computer system that assists public safety agencies by electronically producing and instantaneously distributing color fliers of missing children. TRAK shares information on missing children with the general public, schools, businesses, and other state and federal agencies within minutes. The Missing Kids 100,000 program, sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, allows the Clearinghouse to place missing child photographs and information on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Interpol web site. The Eagle Eye/Child Net Program is a partnership between the United States Postal Service and the Clearinghouse that utilizes postal carriers to watch for missing children. Postal carriers are provided a missing child flier that enables them to watch for the missing child while they are on their normal delivery routes. Amber Alert of Michigan is a not-for-profit agency that is dedicated to act as a liaison between public safety agencies and the media, to quickly disseminate information on an endangered, missing child to the public. Working with Amber Alert of Michigan is the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Michigan Sheriffs Association, and MSP. When MSP is notified of a child's disappearance through any of these systems, all the programs available through the Clearinghouse are activated. By quickly disseminating information on the endangered missing child case, MSP takes a leading role in efforts to recover the child swiftly and safely. Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of USB's field operations in providing public safety services. Conclusion: We concluded that USB's field operations were effective in providing public safety services.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Uniform Services Bureau. Our audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included such tests of the records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. Our methodology included the testing of records primarily covering the period October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2001. We conducted a preliminary review of USB's operations to gain an understanding of the activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit. This included discussions with staff regarding their functions and responsibilities and review of program and financial records.

PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP MSP had complied with 5 of the 6 prior audit recommendations. The other recommendation is no longer applicable.