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The Latest Breaking News from Deborah Witzburg

Six-figure skimming from city sticker sales, $200K in rogue debt collection fees highlight inspector general’s quarterly report

In her final report for 2023, Deborah Witzburg details a clerk’s office worker who allegedly pocketed cash payments; and a contractor suspected of taking more than $200,000 in debt collection fees on paid-up accounts.

Chicago Sun-Times

Inspector general’s office passes consent decree test as CPD struggles to comply

While CPD is the main focus of the decree — and has the farthest way to go to meet its terms — the inspector general’s office had been among several other agencies still being scrutinized by the feds.

Chicago Sun-Times

Civic Federation taps former city inspector general Joe Ferguson as president

Ferguson replaces Laurence Msall, the public finance expert whose death in February left a giant hole in the watchdog landscape.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago City Hall is owed billions of dollars it hasn’t managed to collect

A Sun-Times analysis finds that thousands of scofflaws — many from the suburbs — have dodged city debts over the years, depriving City Hall of a massive sum of money as Mayor Brandon Johnson faces steep budget challenges.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago cops tied to Oath Keepers barred from testifying in court, Kim Foxx decides

The move by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office comes weeks after WBEZ and the Sun-Times identified officers who appeared on leaked membership rolls for the anti-government group.

Chicago Sun-Times

New policy bars Chicago cops from joining hate, extremist groups

The policy was approved Monday by a civilian-led oversight panel after CPD investigated but took little action against cops with connections to far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters.

Chicago Sun-Times

Police oversight panel asks city watchdog to investigate Chicago Police Department’s ties to extremist groups

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability on Thursday recommended the city’s inspector general investigate officers named on an Oath Keepers list so any extremists can be “rooted out” of the department.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago police oversight panel to push new outside investigation into cops with extremist ties

The Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability will vote Thursday on asking the city’s inspector general to investigate cops named on an Oath Keepers list.

Chicago Sun-Times

How the Chicago Police Department tolerates officers with ties to extremism and what’s being done about it

A new civilian oversight panel is working with Chicago police on a policy that would bar officers from joining hate and extremist groups.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago police officers with ties to extremist Oath Keepers stay on the force. Some have troubling records.

An investigation by WBEZ, Chicago Sun-Times and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project found allegations of excessive force, improper searches and racist comments on the job.

Chicago Sun-Times

Outgoing Police Board president urges City Council to reject arbitrator’s ruling, says it would undermine police reform

The ruling would allow Chicago police officers accused of the most serious wrongdoing to bypass the board and take their cases to an arbitrator behind closed doors.

Chicago Sun-Times

More than 1,000 COVID-19 relief loans went to city of Chicago employees — and many look fraudulent, city’s watchdog says

Chicago’s Inspector General Deborah Witzburg revealed only one disciplinary case but said, “There are members of the police department included on the list that we are looking at.”

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago police facing serious discipline should not have cases decided in secret

The City Council should reject a ruling by an arbitrator that would allow police officers facing firings or long suspensions to dodge the Chicago Police Board and move cases to arbitration — outside public view.

Chicago Sun-Times

Nearly half the time, Chicago cops don’t record time of arrival at emergency scenes

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg set out to determine if 911 calls from Black and Hispanic neighborhoods get slower response time. She couldn’t — because much of the data does not exist.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago’s Board of Ethics opened—then closed—a review of allegations against city treasurer

The ethics board doesn’t have the authority to investigate, and the case against Melissa Conyears-Ervin was closed. The Office of the Inspector General won’t say if it is conducting an inquiry.

Chicago Sun-Times

New audit by inspector general lauds city outreach to homeless encampments

The city has periodically been criticized for hosing down and clearing homeless encampments without giving sufficient notice or trying to preserve personal items. An audit by the city’s watchdog found just the opposite.

Chicago Sun-Times

Arbitrator’s ruling undercuts Police Board’s disciplinary power

The ruling allows officers accused of the most serious wrongdoing to bypass the Police Board, taking their cases to an independent arbitrator behind closed doors.

Chicago Sun-Times

Watchdog investigating migrant spending and PPP loan fraud by city employees: ‘This is a large-scale undertaking’

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg said Thursday that whenever there is a state of emergency and a haste to deliver financial aid, there is an inevitable shortage of oversight that invites abuse.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Lori Lightfoot, Jim Gardiner accused of ethics violations that could trigger fines

As the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ-FM Radio reported, the Lightfoot reelection campaign sent more than 9,900 emails to CPS and City Colleges staff over a period of months.

Chicago Sun-Times

City Council committee advances 2-term limit on city’s top watchdog

The reforms championed by Ethics Chair Matt Martin (47th) would limit the inspector general to two four-year terms — with firm timelines for picking a replacement and a demand for written explanations if those deadlines are not met.

Chicago Sun-Times

Anjanette Young search among at least 21 ‘wrong raids’ by Chicago police from 2017 through 2020; poor records hide true number

The botched 2019 police raid on Young’s apartment prompted reforms. More changes are coming — ‘encouraging,’ City Hall Inspector General Deborah Witzburg says.

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago’s inspector general would be limited to 2 terms under reform proposal

Ald. Matt Martin’s plan also sets timelines to avoid watchdog post remaining vacant for long periods.

Chicago Tribune

City inspector general finds Chicago Police Department employs dozens of cops who knowingly lied

CHICAGO — The Chicago Police Department continues to employ more than 100 officers who knowingly provided false information during criminal investigations, according to a report released Thursday by the city’s watchdog agency.

Chicago Sun-Times

PPP fraud probe results in 6 Chicago Park District employees resigning, 5 facing discipline

Separately, City Hall Inspector General Deborah Witzburg’s investigation of COVID relief Paycheck Protection Program fraud “is a large-scale undertaking” that could lead to criminal charges.

Chicago Sun-Times

Lollapalooza’s expected economic impact vs. NASCAR’s, the lives forever changed by COVID and more in your Chicago news roundup

Today’s update is about an eight-minute read that will brief you on the day’s biggest stories.

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