July 24, 2008
Drug-test director protests his firing
Ex-city official denies he mishandled program
The former chief of Chicago's drug-testing program said Saturday that he was unfairly dismissed and denied all allegations of mismanagement.
Russell Baggett, 55, stands accused of failing to include more than 800 truck drivers with commercial driver's licenses in random drug-testing pools, according to a report from the inspector general's office. He also is accused of consistently notifying supervisors the day before tests.
The report, which recommended that Baggett be fired, found no evidence that he received payback, city officials said. The inspector general's office alleged that Baggett violated basic rules of compliance with federal regulations.
"Right now, I'm just disturbed," said Baggett, who was fired Friday after overseeing the city's drug and alcohol testing program for 14 years. "I've been dedicated to this field for over 20 years. I don't understand what's going on. I'm extremely disappointed."
The city conducts annual random drug tests on about half of its 2,000 employees from several city departments who hold commercial driver's licenses, he said.
Anthony Boswell, head of the city's new Office of Compliance, which oversees the drug and alcohol program, could not be reached for comment Saturday. Mayor Richard Daley said Saturday that he was unfamiliar with the case.
Baggett maintained he never alerted supervisors about upcoming tests. He also denied allegations that he allowed people who were absent from work the day of their random test to skip the test entirely. Federal rules require that the employee be tested the day they return to work.
"That is totally preposterous," he said.
Baggett said he tested all employees who required it, except in November 2006 when a supervisor instructed him to not test up to 10 Streets and Sanitation drivers. He said he challenged his supervisor but obeyed and then made a complaint that sparked the inspector general's investigation.
The report, which was released Tuesday, discusses the incident, but city officials said it is less serious than other allegations against Baggett. They said the investigation began with general complaints about mismanagement of the drug and alcohol testing program.
mowen@tribune.com
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