History

History

From the Revolutionary War to the 20th Anniversary of the USCP Office of Inspector General – a quick overview of the history of the Inspector General. 

The Continental Congress appointed General George Washington as the commander of all Continental forces – General Washington first order of business was to form a cohesive army from the various colony militias. To help achieve this challenging goal, the early leaders borrowed a concept from the European armies – the idea of an “Inspector General.” It became General Washington’s job to establish this role and develop the duties and responsibilities. The IG would instruct as well as review the troops, to instill discipline, and ensure that "the officers command their soldiers properly and do them justice." 

The Continental Congress initially appointed Thomas Conway as the first Inspector General – that would be short lived and he was replaced by former Prussian Army Officer, Baron von Steuben, as the temporary Inspector General. On May 5, 1778, upon General Washington’s recommendation, Congress appointed von Steuben as the permanent IG.  Interestingly, it was Benjamin Franklin, who was serving as an agent of Congress in France, who first recommended von Steuben to General Washington's. IG von Steuben’s success in developing the troops during the difficult winter at Valley Forge in 1777 and 1778, and the development of a system of training and inspection that was used by the United States Army for decades, led to him being called the father of the Inspector General system. 

Two hundred years later, in 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed legislation, known as the “IG Act of 1978,” establishing IGs in federal agencies across government. The IG Act created independent, statutory Offices of Inspectors General to combat fraud, waste, and abuse across federal agencies. Triggered by 1970s procurement scandals, the Act established 12 original IGs, growing to over 70 today, to audit and investigate Executive Branch operations, reporting to both agency heads and Congress. Eventually, Congress established the Inspectors General in several Legislative Branch agencies.

The United States Capitol Police (USCP) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established on August 2, 2005, with the enactment of Public Law 109‑55. Congress created the office to strengthen independent oversight of the (USCP) and to promote accountability, transparency, and integrity within the agency. Under the law, the IG reports directly to the Capitol Police Board, ensuring a clear line of independence in carrying out oversight responsibilities.

The OIG became operational in July 2006 with the appointment of Carl Hoecker as the first Inspector General. The office initially consisted of four staff members—an IG, an Assistant IG for Audits, an Assistant IG for Investigations, and an Executive Officer. Since its early years, the OIG has progressively broadened its capacity to meet the oversight demands of an agency whose size, mission, and operations have continued to evolve.

USCP OIG  conducts audits, inspections, and investigations designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of USCP programs and operations. The office continues to grow and evolve to meet emerging oversight needs and to support the USCP in fulfilling its mission to protect the U.S. Capitol, Members of Congress, staff, and visitors.

Inspectors General of the United States Capitol Police

  • Carl Hoecker (2006–2013)
  • Fay Ropella (2013–2018)
  • Michael Bolton (2019–2022)
  • Ronald Russo (2023–2024)
  • David Harper (2024–Present)