U.S. Capitol Police: Evaluation of U.S. Capitol Police Administrative
Operations (Testimony, 03/25/99, GAO/T-AIMD-99-116).
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the U.S. Capitol
Police's administrative operations, focusing on: (1) the U.S. Capitol
Police's existing organizational strategies, structures, systems and
processes; (2) the evaluation of the economy, efficiency, and
effectiveness of systems, processes, controls, and information for each
administrative operation; and (3) opportunities for improving the
operational efficiency and effectiveness of each administrative
operation. GAO selected Booz-Allen and Hamilton to conduct the
evaluation.
GAO noted that: (1) the U.S. Capitol Police receives the necessary
support services from its administrative infrastructure, but the
infrastructure is fragile and is unlikely to be able to provide adequate
support services in the future without changes in strategy,
organization, and business processes; (2) the organization of the U.S.
Capitol Police does not facilitate communication between operations and
the administrative infrastructure and does not fully integrate support
services into the management process; (3) there is no strategic plan or
strategic planning process for the administrative infrastructure of the
U.S. Capitol Police; and (4) established or published policies and
procedures for the administrative infrastructure are often lacking.
--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------
REPORTNUM: T-AIMD-99-116
TITLE: U.S. Capitol Police: Evaluation of U.S. Capitol Police
Administrative Operations
DATE: 03/25/99
SUBJECT: Police
Human resources utilization
Facility security
Internal controls
Financial management
Personnel management
Information resources management
Performance measures
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cover1+2.book GAO United States General Accounting Office
Testimony Before the Committee on House Administration, House of
Representatives
For Release on Delivery Expected at 4: 00 p. m. Thursday, March
25, 1999
U. S. CAPITOL POLICE Evaluation of U. S. Capitol Police
Administrative Operations
Statement of Robert W. Gramling Director, Corporate Audits and
Standards Accounting and Information Management Division
GAO/T-AIMD-99-116
GAO/T-AIMD-99-116
Page 1 GAO/T-AIMD-99-116
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee: Thank you for the
opportunity to participate in this hearing on the U. S. Capitol
Police. The timing of this hearing is particularly important as
the U. S. Capitol Police plans to significantly increase the
number of its police
officers to address potential security risks that exist for the
Members and staff of the Congress as well as the public who visit
the Capitol buildings and grounds. The administrative operations
of the U. S. Capitol Police must be adequate to support its
mission and operations.
As agreed with the Committee, our testimony will provide an
overview of the results of the requested management review of the
U. S. Capitol Police's administrative operations. As you know, the
evaluation was jointly requested by this Committee, the
Subcommittee on Legislative of the House Committee on
Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration,
and the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch of the
Senate Committee on Appropriations. The request asked for an
evaluation of the systems and processes of the U. S. Capitol
Police's financial, human resources, and information resources
management operations to identify opportunities for improving
their economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. In response to your
request, we prepared an overall approach plan for
conducting the evaluation, which each Committee agreed to. The
plan called for us to contract with a management consulting firm
to conduct the evaluation and oversee the firm's work. In June
1998, following our review of proposals and discussions with
representatives of three firms, we selected Booz- Allen & Hamilton
to conduct the evaluation.
We are pleased to be here today with a representative of Booz-
Allen to present the results of its evaluation of the U. S.
Capitol Police's administrative operations. The evaluation focused
on understanding the U. S. Capitol Police's existing
organizational
strategies, structures, systems and processes; evaluating the
economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of systems, processes,
controls, and information for each administrative operation;
and identifying and evaluating opportunities for improving the
operational
efficiency and effectiveness of each administrative operation.
Throughout the evaluation, we worked closely with Booz- Allen as
it extensively reviewed the U. S. Capitol Police's administrative
operations, analyzed the results of its inquiries and the data
accumulated, and Lett er
Page 2 GAO/T-AIMD-99-116
developed its findings and recommendations. Booz- Allen's report 1
identifies 23 major functions or activities of financial, human
resource, and information technology operations where significant
improvements are needed, makes 26 recommendations, and provides a
roadmap for each major administrative operation to assist the U.
S. Capitol Police in implementing the recommendations. Booz-
Allen's report identifies four overarching issues that affect the
entire organization:
The U. S. Capitol Police receives the necessary support services
from its administrative infrastructure, but the infrastructure is
fragile and is unlikely to be able to provide adequate support
services in the future
without changes in strategy, organization, and business processes.
The current organization of the U. S. Capitol Police does not
facilitate communication between operations and the administrative
infrastructure and does not fully integrate support services into
the management process. There is no strategic plan or strategic
planning process for the administrative infrastructure of the U.
S. Capitol Police. Established or current published policies and
procedures for the administrative infrastructure are often
lacking.
The Board and the Chief of Police reviewed a draft of the report
and advised Booz- Allen that they agreed with the recommendations.
It is very important that management does the fundamental
strategic planning required to provide a solid foundation for the
significant enhancements needed to modernize the U. S. Capitol
Police's administrative operations. It should be noted that the U.
S. Capitol Police and its Board provided
excellent cooperation with Booz- Allen as it conducted its
evaluation. They informed us that they view the study results as
an opportunity to build a sound administrative infrastructure.
Accompanying me today is Jack Mayer, a principal with Booz- Allen
and Project Manager on the evaluation. He will present in greater
detail the scope and results of the evaluation. Following his
testimony, we will be pleased to respond to questions you or the
other Members of the
Committee may have. 1 Management Review of U. S. Capitol Police
(USCP) Selected Administrative Operations, Booz- Allen & Hamilton,
January 13, 1999.
(917721) Lett er
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