Chicago Park Boss Withheld Report of Lifeguards’ Sexual Harassment and Drug Use: Report

Despite assuring a female lifeguard that he would launch an immediate investigation of her complaints about physical abuse, sexual harassment and drug and alcohol use by lifeguards at Oak Street Beach, Chicago Park District Superintendent Mike Kelly waited six weeks to order an internal probe into the allegations, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Despite assuring a female lifeguard that he would launch an immediate investigation of her complaints about physical abuse, sexual harassment and drug and alcohol use by lifeguards at Oak Street Beach, Chicago Park District Superintendent Mike Kelly waited six weeks to order an internal probe into the allegations, which named the daughter of a high-ranking Park District official as having participated in what is described as an alleged hazing, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. The inspector general’s office didn’t receive the February allegations until mid-March, after a more graphic complaint was referred to him by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

The delay runs contrary to Park District rules, which require alleged wrongdoing to be reported immediately to the inspector general. So does the ordinance creating the inspector general’s office. The Park District’s sexual harassment policy requires allegations be reported “as soon as possible,” or within five business days, to human resources. The young woman’s 11-page complaint to Kelly in February 2020 describes a frat house atmosphere of forced binge-drinking, violent hazing rituals and retaliation against anyone refusing to drink or get high, as well as anyone who quit during the summer of 2019, perpetrated by specific lifeguards she named. In a recently-made-public report, the Park District’s inspector general described how roughly a half-dozen female lifeguards at Park District pools and beaches were sexually harassed and assaulted by three male co-workers. Her report hinted at a cover-up. Since then, the investigation has expanded to include at least 15 female lifeguards.