Protecting the Public Trust: Veteran Investigator Helms Office of Inspector General

For nearly three decades, Sha S. Brown has built a distinguished career on one simple principle: public trust depends on accountability.

Whether investigating public corruption, uncovering financial misconduct, or strengthening oversight within government agencies, Brown has worked behind the scenes to ensure that public institutions operate with integrity and that taxpayer dollars are protected.

That commitment to accountability is what brought him to Philadelphia late last year, when the Board of Education tapped Brown to become the School District of Philadelphia’s fourth Inspector General, selecting a veteran investigator and government oversight leader to help safeguard one of the city’s largest public institutions.

A seamless transition

Over the course of his career, Brown has encountered his fair share of wrongdoing, probing everything from economic crimes and public corruption to government waste and abuse. He served for more than 20 years as a Maryland State Trooper, including more than a decade leading a statewide unit within the Maryland Attorney General’s Office responsible for investigating financial misdeeds and the abuse of power for private benefit.

Brown’s years in law enforcement prepared him for a relatively seamless transition to government oversight and accountability. He held leadership roles as a chief compliance officer, auditor, and executive leader within the Maryland Department of Health’s Office of the Inspector General before being appointed in 2020 by Gov. Tom Wolf as Pennsylvania’s first Deputy Inspector General for Law Enforcement Oversight.

His firsts did not stop there. Under Governor Josh Shapiro, he became the Commonwealth’s first Deputy State Inspector General for Financial Integrity. Most recently, Brown served in the Montgomery County, MD, Office of the Inspector General, where he helped oversee the operations and accountability of Maryland’s largest public school district.

Stewards of public trust

As head of the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of Inspector General, Brown manages an independent 10-member team dedicated to preventing fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct. Serving as an internal watchdog, the OIG reports directly to the Board of Education and provides oversight of District operations, financial transactions, contractors, and personnel.

“My team and I view our roles as stewards of the public trust, who work on an independent and objective path to inform and advise the Board of Education, District leadership, and other stakeholders,” said Brown, whose professional credentials cover government accountability, financial crimes investigation, auditing, and fraud detection.

“While we objectively investigate allegations, we also monitor financial transactions to detect risks, identify irregularities and inefficiencies to minimize waste, and recommend ways to improve operations and internal controls.”

“We receive reports, anonymous tips, or complaints from District employees and the general public, which can trigger an investigation or review. When we do investigate, it’s to ensure the District’s operations and activities are as effective, efficient, and economical as possible and to make recommendations, when appropriate, for process improvements.”

Guided by Board policy

The office is staffed by certified investigators, analysts, and examiners with decades of investigative, financial, auditing, and leadership experience, including at the federal, state, and local levels as well as for private companies.

In fall 2023, the Board of Education adopted Board Policy 1200, which sets forth the responsibilities and authority of the Office of Inspector General, as well as Administrative Procedures to guide the OIG’s work; the OIG provides investigative support for Board policies related to misconduct, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, mismanagement, misuse of District vehicles, and ethics.

Students, parents and the public can report suspected misconduct to the OIG in various ways including via email, website form, hotline, phone call, walk-in, or the District’s online customer service platform.

District employees have a responsibility to disclose any behavior that appears illegal or violates ethical standards, particularly when such actions threaten the well-being or safety of school communities; or risk the integrity or reputation of the District.

In addition to the OIG, employees can report concerns to the School District’s Office of General Counsel and/or the School District’s Talent Office. Learn more