CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The head of the Chicago Park District has announced what he calls the “emergency suspensions” of two top officials over allegations of sexual harassment and abuse among beach lifeguards.
Park District Supt. Mike Kelly said two high level district employees have been suspended over allegations of sexual harassment involving lifeguards at Oak Street Beach. He also said three more investigations are underway by Park District Inspector General Elaine Little.
Kelly's faced criticism for not immediately turning over harassment complaints to the inspector general but he said standard procedure was to let his managers investigate first.
"I always knew this was going the Inspector General. I always knew it. Why? There's over a thousand lifeguards in my unit. Over a thousand. I knew that wasn't going to be routed out just with management. But I had to give management the first bite of the apple, the first crack at this," Kelly told WBBM Newsradio.
Kelly also announced the creation of a new "office of protection" to handle such complaints and he vows to root out abuse.
For now, he said complaints should go to the inspector general.
Related
