Cook County report details ‘gross mismanagement’ at pool
The Cook County Inspector General says an investigation into a theft at a Forest Preserve pool uncovered “gross mismanagement,” including theft by employees, falsified time cards, drinking while on duty, and employees caught in some comprising situations.
According to a report released Friday afternoon, the investigation started last July, after a tip that Forest Preserve employees at the Cermak Aquatic Center in Lyons were skimming daily cash proceeds.
After installing covert surveillance cameras in the pool’s office, investigators found that employees used the office to drink, give alcohol to minors, “engage in sexual relations” including improper physical contact between a supervisor and a subordinate, and sleep while on the clock.
The report says investigators with the help of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office and the Illinois State Police recorded approximately 120 hours of video evidence in the case from August 19 to September 8, 2010.
On top of that, according to the report, employees skimmed “thousands of dollars” from daily cash receipts. As a result, disciplinary actions were recommended for 17 employees.
Further, while looking at the timesheets of pool employees throughout Cook County, the OIIG found $166,716 in improper overtime payments. Some employees even were paid while the pool was closed for rain days. Investigators also say they found “widespread time card fraud” at all three aquatic centers.
In total, the Office of the Inspector General says thefts and overtime issues cost the Forest Preserve $209,989 last summer.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, Forest Preserve District Superintendent Arnold Randall said the actions described in the report were “completely unacceptable to this Administration (and) will not be tolerated.”
He said the employees involved have been terminated and are not eligible for future employment with the district. Officials are now reviewing and revising how cash is handled and pools are supervised, and further action will be taken after the report is fully reviewed, according to the statement.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a written statement that her administration started to make changes after she took office by appointing a new superintendent and deputy superintendent.
“This report makes it clear why we are making dramatic changes in the forest preserve district,” Preckwinkle said. “This new leadership team has been tasked with changing the culture of Cook County and they are implementing new rules and reforms to do that.”
Ÿ Daily Herald staff writer Christopher Placek contributed to this report.