Workers' Compensation Investigator is Subject of Probe into Racist Email

Wednesday, July 26, 2017 | 0

An investigator with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is under investigation for using his personal email address to send Chicago water department employees racist, sexist and anti-gay emails, The Chicago Tribune reported Monday.

Frank Capuzi, 62, a former Republican committeeman on Chicago’s West Side and the son of former Republican state Rep. Louis F. Capuzi, has worked for the state for 42 years and makes more than $114,000 a year, the newspaper said.

“The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission is currently investigating the highly offensive and inexcusable email messages from one of its employees,” commission spokesman Ben Noble told The Tribune. “After a complete and thorough administrative review, the commission will determine what actions may be appropriate.”

One of the emails referenced a fake “Chicago Safari adventure” and poked fun at shootings of children in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s communications director, Laurel Patrick, confirmed the commission's investigation into Capuzi and said the language used in the emails is “inappropriate and unacceptable.”

Capuzi hung up on a reporter and did not respond to follow-up emails sent to his work and personal addresses, the newspaper said.