By Sam Charles
Chicago Tribune
CHICAGO — Several members of the Chicago Fire Department falsified reports and misled investigators after a high-ranking department member was found slumped over the steering wheel over a vehicle in 2022, according to a new report from the city’s Office of Inspector General.
In late May 2022, a civilian called 911 to report a motorist was asleep in a vehicle at a stoplight. The five responding CFD members found the unconscious driver to be an off-duty CFD assistant deputy paramedic chief, the report said.
Responding Chicago Police officers were waved off, and one of the CFD members, an EMS captain, drove the assistant deputy paramedic chief to a nearby firehouse, according to the office. The deputy chief then fell asleep for about 90 minutes, according to the OIG.
The deputy chief’s spouse also worked as a CFD deputy chief, and they were assigned to the firehouse where the recently discovered deputy chief was brought.
“Several CFD members stated that the assistant deputy chief paramedic fell asleep while driving because of a long work shift and was driven back as a ‘professional courtesy’ shown toward certain employees; CFD members also acknowledged that CFD policy may not allow such ‘professional courtesy,’” the report, released Wednesday, said.
OIG said it “received information that the assistant deputy chief paramedic was intoxicated at the time of the incident,” but “was unable to determine whether the assistant deputy chief paramedic was in fact intoxicated or whether they had operated the vehicle in which they were found while intoxicated.”
The deputy chief retired amid the OIG investigation and CFD declined to refer them to the city’s “ineligible for rehire” list. The CFD captain who drove the deputy chief to the firehouse was suspended for six days, while the other CFD members on scene received reprimands, according to OIG.
The allegations were reminiscent of the treatment afforded to former CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson. In 2019, Johnson was found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle near his Bridgeport home. He was not subjected to field sobriety tests, and CPD officers escorted him home.
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