CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The city Inspector General's office is raising concerns about the number of Chicago Fire Department badges being reported missing or stolen.
A disproportionate number of fire department retirees have reported their active duty badges missing or stolen within months of their retirements, according to the Inspector General's office.
The firefighter badges are considered city property and retirees are required to turn them in when the leave the department. IG reports that from 2015 through half of 2020, 340 CFD members have reported badges lost or stolen to the police department. About four of every five reports have come from retirees.
The IG's inquiry suggests some possible reasons include that retirees may want to keep their badges and file false reports of theft to do that or that the badges could have actually been lost or stolen, but they didn't report that at the time.
The IG's recommendations include that CFD personnel pay for the missing badges or that retirement badges be issued when active duty badges are turned in.
"The failure to properly account for CFD badges is a control risk and raises concerns for potential misconduct, considering that CFD badges designate the holder as having official authority conferred by the City," said Interim Inspector General William Marback in a statement.
"The Chicago Fire Department and the Office of Public Safety Administration have offered assurance that the issue of lost or stolen badges will be taken seriously, and have committed to adhering to the proper protocols concerning city property and the enforcement of discipline when staff aren't in compliance with said protocols."
