Governor Perdue, by executive order in 2003, set up the first office of Inspector General. Deron Hicks is the third Inspector General to hold that office.

According to Hicks, the basic responsibility of the office is to investigate, detect and prevent fraud, waste, abuse and corruption in the state government. That encompasses 86 separate state agencies with close to 90,000 employees. Hicks explained that his office receives complaints from both the people in these agencies as well as from individuals who believe they are aware of misconduct and want it investigated. The agency’s website has a complaint form that can be used by individuals to file a complaint regarding suspected fraud or misdoings by any individual in a state agency. The agency also has an 800 number that can be used.

For details on cases investigated, to get the 800 number, or to use the complaint form go the web site, which can be easily found at Google, type in Inspector general of Georgia.