Posted by John Byrne at 2:39 p.m.
Mayor Richard Daley said today that an outside investigator will be brought in to look at sexual harassment allegations against Fire Commissioner John Brooks instead of the city’s Office of Compliance.
That decision comes amid reports that the beleaguered compliance office failed to investigate the fire department office worker’s claims. The agency is headed by Anthony Boswell, who is on the outs at City Hall and serving a 30-day suspension following allegations he did not properly handle a different sexual harassment claim. Boswell, in turn, has sued the city.
"We’re looking at (allegations that the Office of Compliance did not address the claims)," said Daley at the opening of a new senior citizen apartment complex in the Grand Crossing neighborhood. "But then, we’re going to have somebody else be able to lead the investigation."
No decision has been made on who will do so, he said.
Daley also said his wife, Maggie, is doing well following Friday morning surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital to strengthen her right leg, which had been weakened following removal of a cancerous tumor and subsequent treatment.
"She’s a fighter, and a leader in causes for really helping people out in regards to health care," Daley said.
Maggie will stay at Northwestern until she can get around on the leg, the mayor said. In the meantime, he said, he and the couple’s children and other family members will stay by her bedside.
Her physician, Dr. Steven Rosen, said today that she is progressing well after the surgery, and that it might be two to three days before she leaves the hospital. "That would depend on when she’s feeling strong enough," Rosen said.