Richmond residents concerned about misuse of city dollars have a direct line to investigators — one that promises strict confidentiality and reports directly to City Council rather than the mayor’s office.
The Office of the Inspector General operates a tip system that allows anyone to file complaints about suspected unlawful, wasteful, or abusive use of Richmond City funds. The office, housed at 900 East Broad Street, accepts reports through its online portal, by phone at 804-646-5697, or by fax.
What makes the system notable is its independence and its commitment to anonymity. The OIG reports to City Council, placing it outside the direct control of the city’s executive branch. Tipsters receive a case number and create a passcode to check on their report’s status — a design that allows investigators to communicate with sources without ever knowing their identity.
That confidentiality comes with a tradeoff: there is no way to retrieve a forgotten passcode. The system was built to make it impossible for anyone — including OIG staff — to unmask a whistleblower.
The office investigates what it calls “reasonable suspicions” of three categories of misconduct: illegal activity involving city funds, wasteful spending, and abusive use of public resources. Investigators respond to cases through the same web portal, creating a secure back-channel for tipsters to provide additional information or receive updates.
For Richmond residents frustrated by potholes that never get filled while consulting contracts multiply, or who notice city vehicles being used for personal errands, the OIG represents one of the few formal mechanisms for accountability that operates independently of the officials being scrutinized.
The office’s placement under City Council’s authority — rather than the mayor’s — was a deliberate structural choice. It means the inspector general’s investigations can proceed without interference from the administration whose employees or contractors might be under review.
Residents who choose to file a report will receive their case number upon submission. The OIG advises checking back regularly using the case number and passcode for investigator responses.
- The Office of Inspector General reports to Richmond City Council, not the mayor
- Anonymous tips can be filed online, by phone at 804-646-5697, or by fax at 804-646-6589
- The system investigates suspected unlawful, wasteful, or abusive use of city funds
- Passcodes cannot be retrieved to protect tipster anonymity
Public records reporting · April 16, 2026