Supervisor Denies Letting Worker Sleep On the Job

August 21, 2006

A manager in Chicago's Streets and Sanitation Department has been suspended from his job with the city, accused of allowing another worker to sleep on the job, Chicago officials said.

Shawn Bradley, superintendent of the Streets and Sanitation Department's 30th Ward operations, was issued a 30-day suspension late last month, department spokeswoman Rosa Calderon said.

Bradley is the brother of state Rep. Richard Bradley (D-Chicago), who also works in Streets and Sanitation as an assistant general superintendent.

Besides giving to his brother's campaign, Shawn Bradley has donated nearly $5,000 to the campaigns of Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th) and to former 30th Ward Ald. Michael Wojcik, according to state records. Part of the 30th Ward is located in Richard Bradley's legislative district.

Shawn Bradley was disciplined for allegedly failing to supervise laborer Paul Davison, Calderon said. Bradley has worked for the city since September 1992 and makes more than $87,000 per year.

An investigation by the city's inspector general's office found that Davison "slept while on duty, typically two to three times a week," Calderon said. She said Davison occasionally arrived at work late but then allegedly edited his time sheets to reflect that he had shown up on time.

Bradley said the city inquiry started because of accusations by a disgruntled employee.

"An accusation was made that [Davison] was sleeping at work. That is absolutely not true," Bradley said. "There's nothing I did wrong or that I saw was wrong."

The city also suspended Davison for 30 days, Calderon said. Davison was hired in April 1994 as a laborer but was an acting refuse collection coordinator making $27.32 per hour.

Davison is serving his suspension. After Davison returns to work in September, Bradley will begin serving his suspension, Calderon said.

Bradley said that he has never been disciplined before and that the 30th Ward operations have been among the most productive in the city.

"No, I don't think I should have been suspended," he said. "At most, I should have gotten a warning."

A City Hall source said the inspector general's office recommended that Davison be fired, but city officials gave him 30 days off instead.

Davison has appealed his suspension to the Human Resources Board. He could not be reached for comment.

Law Department spokeswoman Jenny Hoyle said the city decided that Davison and Bradley should get the same punishment.

"Having consistent discipline for both employees was more legally defensible than firing one and only suspending the other," Hoyle said.

By Todd Lighty and Laurie Cohen
Tribune staff reporters