When Chicago Fire Commissioner Jose A. Santiago retired in August, he was facing disciplinary action from Mayor Rahm Emanuel for failing to file a complaint against his driver, who used the N-word while joking with the fire department’s press secretary, records obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show.
This racial incident remained under wraps while City Hall insiders debated the commissioner’s future as he approached the mandatory retirement age of 63.
There was even speculation from the mayor’s office that Emanuel would ask the city council to pass an ordinance to let Santiago stay on as a civilian to run the fire department, which is predominantly white and has a history of racially charged incidents, largely involving white firefighters.
Ultimately, City Hall parted ways with Santiago after the mayor’s office received an 11-page report on Aug. 7 from the city’s Department of Human Resources, that recommended Santiago be punished for violating the city’s equal employment opportunity policy.