Message from Inspector General David Hoffman
In October 2005, I left the U.S. Attorney's Office after seven years as a prosecutor to become Chicago's Inspector General. I did so because I was convinced that the Inspector General's Office had the potential to make a difference in the fight against corruption in City government.
Now that I am in this job, I believe more than ever in our ability to make a difference. As leaders, I have brought in some of the City's best investigators who have many years of experience working with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office on federal criminal investigations.
Dave Grossman, my new Director of Investigations, was one of the lead FBI agents on Operation Greylord — the 1980's investigation into corrupt Cook County judges that led to the conviction of 15 judges and many other law enforcement officers and lawyers. Dave went on to supervise one of the FBI's public corruption squads and ended his 21-year FBI career as one of the top deputies in the FBI's Chicago office.
Mary Hodge, my new First Deputy Inspector General, was a homicide detective for the Chicago Police Department and spent the last ten years of her 23-year police career assigned to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office. While with the FBI, Mary worked on the public corruption / organized crime case against the First Ward politicians and their associates. She later led the successful investigation into the Gangster Disciples and their "King," Larry Hoover.
Several other new supervisors and investigators have joined our office after long careers as either FBI agents or as CPD officers who were assigned to or worked jointly with the FBI for long portions of their career.
When we are fully staffed, which I expect by June 2006, our office will have over 40 investigators — making us a very robust investigative agency.
No one in our office is connected to any politicians or City officials. We have no loyalties outside of our office. We are not creatures of clout.
Our only loyalty is to the mission of our office — uncovering corruption, fraud, misconduct and waste by those in City government and those doing business with the City.
I believe we now have the resources, the expertise, and the independence to make a difference. But we are powerless without one additional element. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Whether you are a City worker or just someone who cares about Chicago, you have the power to make a difference by coming forward with your knowledge of City corruption, fraud, misconduct or waste.
Our website was specifically designed to ensure your confidentiality. This website is not part of the City's website or computer system. Information you send us from this website goes directly to our office and is seen only by Inspector General investigators. And by law, no one in City government outside the Inspector General's Office can have any access to our investigations.
I encourage you to talk to us, either by clicking on the "Report Corruption" box above or by calling our new toll-free Hotline — (866) IG-TIPLINE (866-448-4754) — where an investigator is available to take your information between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on weekdays.
Do not doubt the power of one committed person to make a difference.
My great-grandfather came to Chicago in the 1890's — this is a city that is in my blood and that I care about deeply. A strong and effective Inspector General's Office can make our city better by making our government as clean and honest as possible. I hope you'll join me in this challenge.
