Dear City Employees:

It is our duty to serve Stockton residents and conduct City business in a manner that is ethical, equitable, and transparent. The work we do has a tremendous impact on our community and public trust should always be protected. In order to maintain the utmost degree of accountability, it is important that employees have a mechanism to voice their concerns should they feel something is not right.

The City Auditor’s Office monitors an Ethics Hotline, which is available to all City employees. If you know or suspect misconduct, violations of City policy, theft, waste, or misuse of City assets, please make a report. The system operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can make reports using this secure website, or by calling the toll-free number. All reports are treated as confidential.

Unless you choose to be identified, no one will know who filed the report. Your identity is protected in a number of ways:

• This website is operated by EthicsPoint and is not under the control of the City of Stockton,
• Phone lines are staffed by EthicsPoint, so if you call you will not be talking to a City employee, and
• State law requires the City Auditor to treat the identity of callers and those identified by the caller as confidential.

We hope and expect that all City employees will act ethically and responsibly. When that is not the case, it is incumbent upon each of us to speak up so that the situation can be corrected. Please do not look the other way. We are entrusted with public funds and have a duty to use those funds efficiently, effectively, and equitably.

Before making a report, consider bringing your concern to your supervisor. If for some reason you are not comfortable discussing the issue with your supervisor, you are encouraged to report using the EthicsPoint reporting system. The City Auditor will review and will investigate all legitimate reports.

Sincerely,
Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln II

For City Employees Only

This hotline is intended for reporting instances of fraud, waste, and abuse. Non-fraud related reports may be referred to the responsible department for handling. Reports related to the following will be forwarded to the Human Resources Department:

• Harassment
• Discrimination
• Grievable labor issues

To Make a Report

You may use any of the following methods to submit a report:

• Call 888-269-8704 (toll free),
• or
• Select the "Make a Report" link at the top of this web page.

After you complete your report you will be assigned a unique code called a "report key." Write down your report key and password and keep them in a safe place. After 3 - 5 business days, use your report key and password to check your report for feedback or questions.

• You may contact the City Auditor’s Office directly:
• Email   City.Auditor@stocktonca.gov
• Phone   (209) 937-8916