Establishing Office of Public Integrity Request for Qualifications

Office of Public Integrity – City of Pontiac

The City of Pontiac seeks to establish an independent Office of Public Integrity (OPI) within the municipal government. This office shall be led by a Public Integrity Officer, whose primary responsibility is to promote honesty and integrity in City government by identifying and addressing waste, fraud, and corruption.

i. Appointment
The Public Integrity Officer shall be appointed by a majority vote of the City Council, with written concurrence from the mayor within five (5) days of City Council's approval. The term of service shall be six (6) years.

ii. Removal
The Public Integrity Officer may be removed for cause by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the City Council. Grounds for removal shall be consistent with those outlined in Section 6.108 of the City Charter.

iii. Vacancy
In the event of a vacancy, the City Council shall appoint a new Public Integrity Officer within ninety (90) days to serve a full term.

Minimum Qualifications

The Public Integrity Officer shall be a person who :

1. Has an associate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning; and

2. Has at least five (5) years of experience in any combination of the following fields:
   a. As a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer;
   b. As a federal, state, or local government attorney, including a public defender;
   c. As a federal or state court judge;
   d. Has progressive supervisory experience in an investigative public agency similar to an inspector general or public integrity office;
   e. Has managed and completed complex investigations involving allegations of fraud, theft, deception, and conspiracy;
   f. Has demonstrated the ability to work with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the judiciary; or
   g. Has related experience in a comparable field.

Limitations

Prohibited Activities :

(a) During his or her term, the Public Integrity Officer may only engage in an occupation for profit with the approval of the Board of Ethics. The Public Integrity Officer may not hold any other government office outside the duties of the Public Integrity Officer and shall comply with all conflict-of-interest provisions outlined in this Charter.

(b) Subject to applicable law, the Public Integrity Officer shall not solicit votes or raise monetary or in-kind contributions for any candidate for elective office.

(c) Subject to applicable law, the Public Integrity Officer may not hold any elective City office until two (2) years after leaving the position.