OUSTED SUPERVISOR OF DRUG UNIT IS NOT A RACIST, ATTORNEY SAYS

Even though his client admitted to using racist language and joking
around in a black "Sambo" mask, an attorney representing a former
supervisor in an elite drug unit insisted Wednesday that his client
was not a racist.

Fredrick Guerra, who was removed as a supervisor of the Cook County
Metropolitan Enforcement Group after the allegations surfaced, has an
"impeccable" 22-year record in the sheriff's office, according to his
attorney, Joseph Mazzone.

Racial slurs were commonplace among the undercover agents who worked
in the MEG unit, as were jokes poking fun at racial and ethnic groups,
Mazzone said. No one had complained about the agents' behavior until
Yorli Huff, an African-American woman, filed a complaint with the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last year and later filed a
federal lawsuit.

"Huff is a very disgruntled employee who not only didn't get along
with Fred Guerra, she didn't get along with anybody," Mazzone said.

He also complained that details of Guerra's alleged behavior surfaced
in the press a month before the election for Cook County sheriff, in
an attempt to embarrass Sheriff Michael Sheahan.

The Tribune reported last week that the sheriff's office was moving to
fire Guerra and another supervisor, Andy Douvris, because they
allegedly used racial slurs in the MEG office.

In a statement to internal investigators, Guerra also admitted that he
had cavorted in a rubber mask that resembled an African-American
person around the MEG office.

Douvris, through his attorney, has denied any wrongdoing.

Both Guerra and Douvris have been transferred to desk jobs while the
Sheriff's Department's Merit Board considers the cases.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry