WaterDept. employeecalledAfrican- Americans‘ wildanimals’inemail
Water Dept. employee, the son of a former alderman, called African- Americans ‘ wild animals’ in email, inspector finds
The son of a former Chicago alderman used his city email account to buy or sell “at least four firearms and five cars” and send hate- filled emails describing African-Americans as “wild animals.”
Inspector General Joe Ferguson on Monday issued a quarterly report with several explosive new allegations about a Department of Water Management employee whom sources identified to the SunTimes as former District Superintendent Paul Hansen.
Hansen is the son of former longtime Ald. Bernard Hansen ( 44th), who presided over Wrigleyville during the Cubs’ marathon battle for lights at Wrigley Field. The son’s checkered past with the Water Department includes allegations that his political clout helped him get his job back after a DUI conviction.
As the Chicago Sun- Times was first to report, Ferguson originally uncovered the racist, sexist and homophobic emails circulating in the water department while investigating allegations that Paul Hansen had used his city email account to sell guns.
New disclosures include a claim that the now- fired employee sent an email with the subject line “Chicago Safari Tickets” to multiple highranking water department colleagues.
“If you didn’t book a Chicago Safari adventure with us this 4th of July weekend, this is what you missed,” the email states, listing the number of people shot in Englewood, Garfield Park, Austin, Lawndale, South Shore, Woodlawn and other neighborhood plagued by gang violence. It concludes: “We guarantee that you will see at least one kill and five crime scenes per three- day tour. You’ll also see lots and lots of animals in their natural habitat.”
Yet another email with the subject line “Watermelon Protection” includes the image of a Ku Klux Klan robe on a stick in the middle of a watermelon patch. Another under the subject line “U Know U be In Da Hood” contains several photos, including one of a wheelbarrow full of watermelons with a sign that states, “Apply for a Credit Card. Free Watermelon.”
Hansen was further accused of: “repeatedly” sending sexually explicit photos and videos; using his city email account to negotiate personal purchases or sales of at least four firearms and five cars and using a city computer to access websites unrelated to city business on “thousands of occasions over a four- month period,” including accessing sexually explicit videos on YouTube.
Hansen hung up on a SunTimes reporter seeking comment on the new allegations.
Ferguson’s quarterly report also reveals a Water Management chemist “harassed” a former and current employee “through the transmission of multiple text messages and phone calls that included derogatory and threatening messages.”
The alleged harassment occurred “after both employees had already filed multiple complaints.”
Newly appointed Water Management Commissioner Randy Conner followed Ferguson’s recommendation to fire the chemist, only to have the fired employee file a grievance. Arbitration is ongoing.
Another Water Management supervisor whom sources identified as Thomas Durkin, former $ 106,599- a- year general foreman of plumbers, was accused of sending racist and hateful emails that referred to Muslims as “rag head -------- ers” and describing African- Americans as “wild animals” who are “untamed” in response to Hansen’s “Chicago Safari” email.
The ugly details of the scandal were released while Emanuel was in Europe to promote Chicago business.
Although themayor has appointed an African- American commissioner to clean house in the Department of Water Management, South Side Ald. Anthony Beale ( 9th) questioned whether the mayor has done enough to eradicate a hate- filled culture that has triggered a federal lawsuit.
“If these things are still going on, somebody knows about it. Why do we have to wait for the inspector general to issue these reports? ” Beale said.