Can an employee of a local government file a whistleblower report with the State Auditors Office?
Only under certain circumstances can a whistleblower report involving local government be filed with the State Auditor’s Office. There is a Local Government Whistleblower Act, Chapter 42.41 RCW. It requires each local government to have a policy in place, which establishes an appropriate person to receive and investigate reports of improper governmental action. If the local government has failed to follow state law by not establishing a whistleblower policy, the whistleblower can submit a report to the County Prosecutor’s Office. If the local government hasn’t established a policy, and if an employee of the County Prosecutor’s Office is named as the subject of the assertions of improper governmental action, then the whistleblower may file a report with the State Auditor’s Office. Q: Do any other agencies participate in the investigations? If the assertions are criminal in nature, we may ask the Washington State Patrol to conduct the investigation. Other agencies may be asked for assist
Related Questions
- Must local government officials and employees contact the Office of the State Auditor if they discover evidence of missing public funds or property?
- Can a supervisor prohibit an employee from filing a report of improper governmental activity with the State Auditor?
- Can an employee of a local government file a whistleblower report with the State Auditors Office?
