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.