OIG Releases First Quarter 2026 Report, Documenting Mishandled Death Investigation, Widespread Drinking on the Clock at the Airport, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, and PPP Loan Fraud

PRESS CONTACT:
Deanna Shoss, Communications, 773.478.8417

The City of Chicago Office of Inspector General (OIG) has published its Quarterly Report for the first quarter of 2026, which summarizes concluded investigations, inquiries, intakes, and other operations of OIG, from January 1, 2026 through March 31, 2026. This report has been filed with City Council, as required by § 2-56-120 of the Municipal Code of Chicago (MCC).

This quarter, OIG reported an investigation in which the Chicago Police Department (CPD) mishandled its investigation into the death of an individual struck by a vehicle driven by a Chicago Fire Department (CFD) member. OIG also reported an investigation into widespread time falsification, drinking alcohol on the clock, and failure to adequately supervise among 14 City employees, many of whom were drinking in bars when they should have been working at O'Hare International Airport. OIG reports 10 sustained investigations into Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud, nine of them into current or former CPD members and one into a City Council employee.

Another reported investigation revealed that a former high level Mayor's Office employee used their City title and its authority to solicit a job for their child from the president of a City contractor; while their child worked for the contractor, the senior staff member attempted to increase the scope of the contractor's work for the City, allowed the contractor to perform unauthorized work for the City, and attempted to facilitate $9.6 million in payments to the contractor to which the contractor was not entitled. Additionally, an investigation revealed that an alderperson violated their fiduciary duty to the City when they unilaterally removed a City officer from a term-protected position established by City ordinance.

"This quarter's report is the last of my term as Inspector General. It has been an extraordinary privilege to serve in this role, and I leave this position with gratitude for my time in it and for all that my colleagues have accomplished in that time. I believe I will leave OIG more independent and more effective than I found it, and I look forward to the Office's long-term stability and success," said Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General for the City of Chicago.

"There is so much left to do in the effort to build a City government which more closely resembles the one Chicagoans deserve. I hope that during my time here, despite challenges and obstructions in the path, we have pushed a very heavy boulder up a very steep hill a little bit. I am a true believer in the mission of this Office, and I fiercely love this City. It's the home I chose and the place my children are from, and I will watch with gratitude and admiration as OIG continues the messy, challenging, and vital work of making it better."

Q1 2026 by the Numbers

OIG received 3,397 new intakes in Q1 2026. Of OIG's 268 active misconduct investigations at the close of the quarter, 226 are into City employees; 16 are into elected officials; 21 into contractors, subcontractors, and persons seeking contracts; and five into others. The nature of allegations under investigation for the majority, 267, are for misconduct, and one is for ineffectiveness. OIG staff reviewed 314 individual closed disciplinary investigations conducted by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and CPD's Bureau of Internal Affairs.

Read the Report

Read the full report, released on April 15, 2026.

About the Office of Inspector General (OIG)

The mission of the independent and nonpartisan City of Chicago Office of Inspector General is to promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity by identifying corruption, waste, and mismanagement in City government. OIG is a watchdog for the taxpayers of the City and has jurisdiction to conduct inquiries into most aspects of City government.

If you see misconduct, mismanagement, or waste, we need to hear from you.

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