In addition to other powers conferred herein, the Inspector General shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) To receive and register complaints and information concerning misconduct, inefficiency and waste within the city government;
(b) To investigate the performance of governmental officers, employees, functions and programs, either in response to complaints or on the Inspector General's own initiative, in order to detect and prevent misconduct, inefficiency and waste within the programs and operations of the city government;
(c) To promote economy, efficiency, effectiveness and integrity in the administration of the programs and operations of the city government by reviewing programs, identifying any inefficiencies, waste and potential for misconduct therein, and recommending to the Mayor and/or the City Council policies and methods for the elimination of inefficiencies and waste, and the prevention of misconduct;
(d) To report to the ultimate jurisdictional authority concerning results of investigations, audits and program reviews undertaken by the Office of Inspector General;
(e) To request information related to an investigation, audit or program review from any employee, elected or appointed officer, department, agency, contractor, subcontractor, agent or licensee of the city, and every applicant for certification of eligibility for a city contract or program;
(f) To conduct public hearings, at the Inspector General's discretion, in the course of any activity conducted pursuant to this chapter;
(g) To administer oaths and to examine witnesses under oath;
(h) (1) To issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses for purposes of examination and the production of documents and other items for inspection and/or duplication. Issuance of subpoenas shall be subject to the restrictions contained in Section 2-56-040; and
(2) To work with the Law Department to retain counsel to enforce and defend against subpoenas, provided:
(i) such counsel are, at the exclusive option and request of the Inspector General, either: (A) Office of Inspector General attorneys whom the Corporation Counsel designates as Special Assistants Corporation Counsel for the limited purposes stated in this paragraph (h)(2), or (B) outside counsel, acceptable to the Inspector General, retained for said limited purposes by the Law Department. Corporation Counsel approval of the Inspector General’s requests made under this paragraph (h)(2) shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned;
(ii) any such outside counsel are retained pursuant to the standard terms of engagement then used by the Corporation Counsel, including any limitations on fees or costs; and
(iii) the costs of such representation are paid from the appropriations of the Office of Inspector General.
Nothing in this provision shall be construed to alter the exclusive authority of the Corporation Counsel to either defend and supervise the defense of claims against the City and/or individual City defendants, or to provide the Inspector General or his Office with the authority to settle monetary or other claims against the City and/or individual City defendants.
(i) To exercise any powers or duties granted to the Inspector General specified in this Code with respect to any sister agency, as that term is defined in Section 1-23-010, pursuant to an intergovernmental agreement that the City may enter into with such sister agency as authorized by the City Council, and as such power or duty may be modified by such agreement;
(j) For the purpose of assisting in the investigation and prosecution of matters within the jurisdiction of the Inspector General as specified in this chapter, to engage in activities that are both authorized by and carried out under the direction of the Illinois Attorney General, the Cook County State's Attorney, the United States Department of Justice and other agencies authorized to investigate and prosecute violations of criminal law. The Inspector General shall undertake such training and certification as necessary and appropriate to engage in such activities. Provided, however, employees of the Office of Inspector General shall not, in the performance of their official duties under the Code: (i) arrest, commit for examination or detain in custody any person, or (ii) carry a firearm or other weapon;
(k) To promulgate rules for the conduct of investigations and public hearings consistent with the requirements of due process of law and equal protection under the law;
(Prior code § 19-3; Added Coun. J. 10-4-89, p. 5726; Amend Coun. J. 10-8-14, p. 92142, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 3-18-15, p. 103772, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 19348, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 10-5-16, p. 34471, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 11-8-17, p. 58447, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 7-24-19, p. 2394, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54984, § 3)