City Watchdog: 17 Firefighters And Paramedics Falsified Mileage Records
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A group of Chicago firefighters and paramedics have been suspended for falsifying thousands of dollars' worth of mileage records.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports the Chicago Inspector General's latest quarterly report accused the firefighters and paramedics with the Fire Prevention Bureau of falsely claiming they traveled enough miles on the job in 2009 to qualify for the maximum $350 in monthly reimbursements from the city.
Inspector General Joseph Ferguson said, all told, they submitted false claims for more than $35,000 in reimbursements.
Ferguson recommended firings, but the last time more than 50 members of the Fire Prevention Bureau were cited for the same thing, an arbitrator reversed the firings of four people who lost their jobs over the scandal.
This time, the city has suspended all but one of the firefighters and paramedics involved for 30 to 45 days each. The other employee was already retired.