Timeline of Ontario’s Retaliation
This timeline outlines a clear pattern of retaliation and procedural misconduct following my protected disclosures as City Auditor. Each date and exhibit reference is drawn from the official record to ensure transparency and accountability. The facts are public. The implications are serious.
Exhibits cited are available on Google Drive.
📋 May 2020 – Establishment of Internal Audit Committee (IAC)
Exhibit 4 – Memo Establishing the Internal Audit Committee
The City Manager issues a memo announcing the establishment of an Internal Audit Committee to oversee the internal audit function. The memo explicitly states that the goal is to create “a governing body independent of management,” emphasizing the committee’s role as a check on executive authority. The memo also provides that the IAC will “resolve disagreements between management and the auditor regarding audit findings and other matters.” This provision is central to later events, as the City was formally notified of a disagreement on December 12, 2023, yet failed to utilize this required process.
📋 January 2021 – Internal Audit Authority Formalized
Exhibit 78a – Re-Nomination to the Internal Audit Committee
A memo issued by City Manager Scott Ochoa affirms the internal audit function’s access to “all City documents and data” and expands the Internal Audit Committee (IAC). It designates the IT Director as an ex-officio member and adds a rotating department representative as a full member.
📋 April 18, 2022 – Hired as Internal Auditor
Exhibit 46
I began employment with the City of Ontario as an Internal Auditor under the Confidential / Special Confidential (Con/Scon) agreement. This classification included due process protections as outlined in Article VII of the agreement.
📋 April 2023 – Achieved Regular Status
I completed a 12-month probationary period and achieved regular status under the Con/Scon agreement. This granted me rights to independent arbitration under AAA or the California State Mediation Service.
📋 July 31, 2023 – Promoted to City Auditor (AOME MOU)
Exhibit 45
I was promoted to City Auditor under the Association of Ontario Management Employees (AOME) MOU. This placed me on a six-month promotional probation, during which AOME’s due process protections do not apply. I remained covered by the Con/Scon agreement.
📋 May–August 2023 – Oversight of High-Risk Contracts
I conducted audits into construction management and vendor contracting processes. This contradicts later claims that my role excluded contract oversight.
📋 November 21, 2023 – Backdated Performance Memo Issued
Exhibit 9
MSD Jordan Villwock issued a performance memo criticizing audit staffing, informal recognition, and survey distribution. The memo was backdated to November 15, 2023, in the City of Ontario’s investigative report. The memo was provided to me the week of Thanksgiving on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. I responded to Mr. Villwock before our next 1:1 meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, by providing him with of copy of my written response on Monday before the close of business.
📋 November 27, 2023 – Response Asserting Audit Standards
Exhibit 10
I formally responded, citing IIA Standards and asserting my obligation to maintain audit independence.
📋 November 29, 2023 – Whistleblower Report Filed
Exhibit 14
A complaint alleging corruption in a vendor contract (Case 44) was submitted through EthicsPoint. The City acknowledged receipt and instructed the complainant to check back in 10 business days.
📋 November 30, 2023 – Report Received and Found Credible
I received the whistleblower complaint from MSD Villwock. After reviewing HR data, vendor contracts, and financial records, I found the allegations credible. I informed Jordan Villwock, who instructed me to wait for a Human Resources investigator before proceeding further.
📋 December 5, 2023 – Directive Undermining Audit Independence
Exhibit 11
Villwock issued a directive requiring that all audits be submitted for executive review, violating IIA Standards requiring auditor independence and objectivity.
📋 December 6–11, 2023 – Obstruction and Misrepresentation
Exhibit 14 & Exhibit 32
Chief Investigator Heider falsely claimed Case 44 had no witness or complainant. HR Director Angela Lopez inaccurately stated that the case had been referred to OPD. Public records show this was false.
📋 December 8, 2023 – Threatened with Discipline
Exhibit 11
I was threatened with “serious discipline” for objecting to interference with audit standards.
📋 December 12, 2023 – Protected Disclosure Submitted; Retaliation Ensued
Exhibits 13, Exhibit 13a & Exhibit 16
I submitted a formal Request for Resolution of Disagreement to MSD Villwock and the Internal Audit Committee. Within hours, I was placed on paid administrative leave. The City failed to follow the dispute resolution process outlined in the 2020 governance memo.
📋 March 18, 2024 – Formal Whistleblower Report Filed
Exhibit 69
I submitted a signed report through EthicsPoint detailing retaliation and ethical violations by Villwock, Sanchez, and Heider. The City never contacted me regarding the complaint.
📋 June 18, 2024 – Case Closed Without Interview
Exhibits 120 & Exhibit 121
The City closed the whistleblower investigation without interviewing me. That evening, I spoke at Council to publicly call for the removal of the City Manager.
📋 July 15, 2024 – Council Approves Non-Competitive Change Order
City Council approved a $28.3 million non-competitive change order to McCarthy Builders for the Vineyard Parking Structure, despite two lower original bids.
📋 July 27, 2025 – Independent Audit Released
I released an independent analysis of contract evaluator scorecards, revealing serious irregularities that favored McCarthy Builders.
📋 July 30, 2025 – Public Appeal Hearing
I presented my case to City Council, citing protected disclosures, violations of audit standards, and retaliation. The City has never addressed the governance failures that followed.
⚠️ Why This Matters
This is not a routine personnel dispute. It is a case of:
- Executive interference in audit independence
- Retaliation for investigating credible whistleblower allegations
- Obstruction of required governance processes
The City Auditor is supposed to be independent. Instead, I was removed for doing the job the public expects me to do.
Let the City conduct its retaliation in daylight.
📂 Access evidence and source documents at AuditorNeumann.com
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