Kolonia, Pohnpei: September 9, 2020, the Pohnpei Office of the Public Auditor (POPA), Compliance Investigation Division (CID) conducted workshops on integrity, fraud and corruption for the 2020 Pohnpei Police Academy at the Pohnpei State Department of Public Safety (DPS). The invitation was sent from the Director of DPS, Patrick Carl for POPA to conduct a class instruction on corruption and fraud to the police academy trainees so they may have a better understanding and knowledge in the subject when they are conducting their duties on a daily basis.
Since majority of the police officers are entry level trainees, the workshop was geared in two phases: The first part was for them to learn the impacts of fraud and how to prevent it by leading and instilling integrity, accountability and ethical conduct in their daily work activities. The other phase was focusing on how to detect and investigate fraud.
The law enforcement and police agencies had been commonly viewed as one of the most vulnerable and exposed public agencies to the risk of fraud and corruption. Police Officers are the first responders to crimes occurred in the Pohnpei State jurisdiction. They should be upholding the law and ensuring that they strive to do the right thing in all situations to keep the public a safer place which also include discouragement of fraud. They should be leading by example to increase the public confidence and trust in their work. The training went well with active participation from the attendees.
POPA and DPS along with the Office of the Attorney General currently has a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place to collaborate and joint forces in combating fraud and corruption.
POPA Investigative Advisor, Sophia Pretrick and staff investigators Trinia Eliou and Derek Dainard of the CID conducted the workshop.
