Highlights of OIG activity from January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 are highlighted below:
• An OIG investigation which established that a CPD officer, on numerous occasions and while on-duty, used a personal recording device to improperly audio and video record members of the public without their knowledge or consent. The recordings show the officer verbally harassing individuals, recording people in their homes and in lock-up, making sexually suggestive remarks to a crime victim, making racially insensitive remarks, and delaying response to a call. The officer’s actions violated state law and multiple CPD General Orders and Rules and Regulations. The investigation further established that a second officer—the first officer’s CPD partner—was aware of, and participated while on-duty, in the officer’s video and audio recordings. The officers’ sergeant was also incompetent in the performance of their duties, having failed to adequately supervise the first officer and report the first officer’s misconduct. The sergeant was aware of the officer’s unauthorized video and audio recordings, and the sergeant neither reported the misconduct, nor ensured that the officer discontinued the practice of recording. OIG recommended that CPD discharge both officers and impose discipline commensurate with the gravity of the violations for the sergeant. CPD agreed with OIG’s recommendation and began the discharge process for the officers, but both officers resigned before charges could be filed with the Chicago Police Board. CPD moved to suspend the sergeant for 10 days; the sergeant is appealing the suspension.
• An OIG audit of the Department of Water Management’s (DWM) overtime monitoring established that DWM had developed policies and tools to manage overtime but did not utilize these resources consistently. OIG found that “call-out” processes across DWM were neither standardized nor transparent, creating a climate where employees might perceive the overtime system as unfair—potentially undermining morale and triggering grievances. DWM managers at all levels had limited awareness of the full range of the Department’s overtime processes, had not exercised robust oversight, and had not consistently maintained overtime records. OIG recommended that DWM update and distribute its overtime policies, use monitoring tools to inform operational decisions, continue efforts to develop internal reporting tools that provide a real-time view of overtime usage, and improve the consistency, transparency, and fairness of the overtime process. DWM agreed with the audit findings and committed to make better use of overtime monitoring tools.
• An OIG notification determined that City does not comply with the requirements of Executive Order No. 2012-2, which governs the administration of the Chicago Data Portal. Over the course of several OIG projects, we had observed multiple issues with the Portal’s completeness, accuracy, and usability, which prevent users from accessing relevant City information and reaching accurate conclusions about City initiatives and resources.
• Other topics of OIG investigations included: City employees who engaged in sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct; time falsification; fraudulent sick time and FMLA leave; and attempted bribery by a City contractor.
Additionally, OIG’s quarterly report numbers are now available as an interactive dashboard that allows you to filter and compare complaints, investigations, and case outcomes, dating back to 2016: https://informationportal.igchicago.org/open-oig-quarterly-stats/