CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Chicago Fire Department lieutenant sexually harassed a restaurant employee, and the misconduct was covered up by a superior, the Office of Inspector General said in its latest report.
The fire lieutenant frequented a restaurant a few times a week for months and singled out one restaurant employee for unwanted attention, investigators said.
The lieutenant allegedly called the employee "baby" and "sweetie" and asked if the employee was going to make the food "with love." An official complaint was filed when the lieutenant allegedly kissed the worker on the cheek without invitation.
The lieutenant's supervisor and friend, a battalion chief, reportedly did an unsanctioned investigation and allegedly told other department employees he would "kick their teeth in" if they talked with the media.
The lieutenant has been fired and is appealing the decision. The battalion chief got a written reprimand.
In other instances of public employee misconduct, the I-G said:
-A Department of Water Management truck driver was fired for allegedly exposing themselves while on duty in a residential neighborhood.
-A director of facilities management for the Department of Assets, Information and Services held a second job running an online clothing and merchandise store, without getting permission.
The city employee's social media pages advertised the online store and included at least one post containing a racist image that was uploaded while the employee was working on city time, the report said.
The public employee resigned.
