County Morgue Workers Found Sleeping On Job By County IG

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 17, 2012 5:20PM

Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard has plenty on his plate besides Joe Berrios’ continued mocking of the County Ethics Ordinance to keep him busy. Blanchard’s office conducted a series of “midnight raids” on the county morgue to see if workers were keeping busy during the midnight shift.

They were. Only they were doing most anything besides what they’re paid to do.

A report from Blanchard's office showed workers were asleep on the job or watching movies on county computers during "midnight raids" conducted in May. The raids were conducted when news and photos of overcrowding at the morgue dominated the news cycle and led to the resignation of County Medical Examiner Dr. Nancy Jones and brought the morgue under the direct responsibility of Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

Blanchard’s office also found records at the morgue dating back to 2004 that hadn’t been digitized and archived. One of the employees was suspended for 25 days and another for five days.