Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct by staff at Lake Evanston selects law firm to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct

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Daily archive photo by Maia Spoto

The edge of Lake Evanston at sunset. Evanston has hired local law firm Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter to investigate recently reported sexual misconduct allegations by municipal staff at the lake.

Evanston has retained local law firm Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter to investigate allegations of misconduct among lakeside staff, the city said on Tuesday.

The cabinet will investigate the allegations, which were first made in the city in the summer of 2020, and the city’s response, and provide recommendations for moving forward.

The allegations come from a petition written by four women employed by the city, which was obtained by WBEZ. The allegations include an allegation that a lifeguard, who was 18 at the time, was raped by an older employee who held the post of manager.

Dozens of residents spoke out in support of the 56 lifeguards and beach workers who signed the petition at city council on Monday. Speakers called for the accountability of lakeside supervisors at the highest levels of municipal government, as well as a thorough investigation into the culture of rape in all spheres of the city’s social infrastructure.

Before appointing the external investigator, the city set up immediate sexual harassment training, fired one of the two men named in the petition, and appointed a city employee to serve as the staff complaints liaison at the edge of the lake. According to WBEZ, the second man accused of sexual misconduct resigned last month.

The decision to enlist an external investigator follows calls from some community members, including the Community Alliance for Better Government, a local government accountability group.

In the statement, the city said the firm has extensive experience investigating workplace harassment and advising clients, including government entities, on strategies to address such issues.

E-mail: [email protected]

Twitter: @delaneygnelson

Related stories:

Evanston residents express solidarity with lakeside employees alleging sexual misconduct

Evanston’s senior human resources official suspended after allegations of widespread sexual harassment among beach staff

Evanston to hire outside firm to investigate response to sexual harassment allegations

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