Family sues Glenview Park District over allegations that a former lifeguard exposed himself to children

The Glenview Park District is being sued for not taking action after a lifeguard allegedly exposed himself to minors at the District’s public pool on two separate occasions in January.

On April 23, Zachary Cortes, 24, of the 9800 block of Bianco Terrace, Des Plaines, was taken into custody at the Glenview Police Department and charged with four counts of felony sexual exploitation in connection with a January investigation at the Glenview Park District, 2400 Chestnut Avenue, authorities said. They said that in both cases it is alleged that Cortes was working at a lifeguard at the pool when he exposed himself to at least two children on different occasions. He was released from custody under the Non-Discretionary Pretrial Release Conditions, with a return court on May 16. Cortes was fired on January 23.

The civil lawsuit alleges that a parent complained to the District about Cortes’s behavior on January 5 but that he was not fired until a second complaint was made on January 20.

In the January 20 incident, an 8-year-old girl told her parents, who were at the District’s “Splash Landings” pool in the 2400 block of Chestnut Avenue in the north suburb, that Cortes had exposed his genitals to her, authorities said. The parents called the police and when they arrived they said they had already launched an investigation into Cortes in connection with an alleged similar January 5 incident at the pool.

The mother of the child in the January 20 incident, identified as “Jane Doe A” in the lawsuit, says Cortes should have been terminated immediately after the January 5 alleged incident.

The Park District said it is aware of the allegations and does criminal background checks on all employees. It also said it is cooperating with authorities.

“The Glenview Park District takes the safety of all patrons, and particularly its minor patrons, very seriously,” a statement from the park district says. “To that end, it conducts criminal background checks on all employees at the Park District, checks state and federal sex offender registries, conducts interviews of applicants, and maintains policies and training aimed at preventing employee misconduct.”

“The Park District is aware of the allegations against Mr. Cortes, was involved in calling the police on January 20, and has been and will continue cooperating with the Glenview Police Department’s investigation,” it continues.  “The Park District does not publicly comment on pending litigation or matters involving minors.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Glenview Police Tip Line at 847-901-6055.

Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.