San Francisco, CA (July 30, 2020) — Today, the Controller's Office is pleased to mark the eighth year in which the U.S. Congress has recognized “National Whistleblower Day.”

National Whistleblower Day is an occasion for government agencies to acknowledge the contributions of whistleblowers who help combat waste, fraud, abuse, and violations of laws and regulations. It is also an opportunity for employees, contractors, and members of the public to be reminded of their right to report, in good faith, misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, or other crimes.

The City and County of San Francisco’s Whistleblower Program is administered by a team within the Controller’s Office that investigates complaints concerning:

• Deficiencies in the quality and delivery of city government services.
• Wasteful and inefficient city government practices.
• Misuse of city government funds.
• Improper activities by city government officers and employees.

We encourage city staff, contractors working on behalf of taxpayers, and all San Franciscans to learn more about the Whistleblower Program and increase or refresh their knowledge about red flags of ethical misconduct, along with the secure ways misconduct can be reported.

 

Helpful Resources

• Whistleblower Program Home Page
• Definitions and Red Flags
• Printable Outreach Materials
• How to File a Complaint
• Past Webinars

 

Related Programs

On January 28, 2020, federal criminal charges were filed against former San Francisco Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. In an effort to gather information that can aid the corruption investigation, the Controller's Office opened a dedicated Public Integrity Tip Line.

To report suspected public integrity abuses regarding the ongoing investigation stemming from alleged wrongdoing by Mr. Nuru, please contact the Public Integrity Tip Line. You can provide information via e-mail at publicintegrity@sfgov.org or by phone at (415) 554-7657. All tips may be submitted anonymously and will remain confidential. Information on city payments, searchable by department and vendor, are available on the Controller’s public transparency website at openbook.sfgov.org. As always, any member of the public may file any allegation of improper public activity with the City’s Whistleblower Program at sfcontroller.org/whistleblower-program.

In June 2020, the Controller’s Office started releasing a series of reports as part of a comprehensive Public Integrity Review.

 

Follow the San Francisco Controller’s Office @sfcontroller on Twitter and subscribe to our reports.

The Controller's Office works to ensure the City's financial integrity and to promote efficient, effective, and accountable government. We strive to be a model for good government and to make the City a better place to live and work. The Controller's Office is responsible for governance and conduct of key aspects of the City's financial operations, including operating the City's financial systems and procedures, maintaining the City's internal control environment, processing payroll for city employees, managing the City's bonds and debt portfolio, and processing and monitoring the City's budget. The department produces regular reports and audits on the City's financial and economic condition and the operations and performance of city government. 

 

About the Whistleblower Program

The Whistleblower Program responds to specific allegations of administrative wrongdoing by city employees and those who do business with the City. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.