From the Sun-Times: 
 
Foreman quits after being linked to scandal 
 
October 14, 2005 
 
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter 
 
 A $37-an-hour foreman in Chicago's scandal-ridden Water Management Department abruptly resigned this week after a co-worker placed him at the center of an investigation into overtime for sale and gambling on city time. 
 
 City Hall sources said foreman of water pipe construction Tom Briatta quit before the inspector general's office could question him about the explosive allegations. 
 
 Tuesday's resignation brings a 33-year career at City Hall to a close for Briatta, who was "maxed out" on his city pension. He is a distant relative by marriage of Mayor Daley's brother, Cook County Commissioner John Daley. 
 
"Tom Briatta was identified ... both as being involved in on-the-job gambling and as someone who took money to give people favorable overtime assignments," said Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle. 
 
 Even if Briatta resigned to avoid being questioned, that doesn't mean he's off the hook, Hoyle said. 
 
The inspector general has the power to issue subpoenas that, if ignored, carry a penalty of up to six months in prison and $500 in daily fines. 
 
Briatta was accused last week of driving to city work sites in a truck co-workers called "the boat" and either participating in gambling for hours at a time, overseeing betting games by other city employees, or a combination of the two. 
 
He was further identified as one of two supervisors who allegedly received cash bribes in exchange for coveted overtime. 
 
Investigators seize computers 
 
 The allegations were made at the Personnel Board hearing of Patrick McDonough, a former plumber in charge of night hydrant work who is now challenging his firing for violating the city's residency rule. 
 
 The charges touched off an internal investigation. Within hours of the testimony, the inspector general's office had seized the work computer of Mike Tierney, the Water Management's North District superintendent. 
 
At least one other computer was reportedly seized last Friday, a day that saw more than a dozen Water Management employees called in for questioning. The interviews have been continuing this week, according to Water Management spokesman Tom LaPorte.