LISTEN: Unauthorized User Blurts N-Word on Chicago Police Radio

CHICAGO — Authorities say racial slurs exposed over the Chicago Police Department's radio transmissions may have come from “external, unauthorized radios,” according to the city's Office of Emergency Management and Communications.

A recording of Chicago Police radio frequencies posted online shows that a racial slur was used on the air while a police dispatcher and an officer were speaking on March 13 on two occasions. Authorities say another racially offensive remark was broadcast Sunday over Chicago police radio.

The audio was first released on Twitter by user @SPOTNEWSonIG, who live tweets Chicago police scanner traffic.

At about the 50-second mark of the clip, a man interjected, "typical f------ n------." The comment came after a conversation between an officer and a dispatcher.

In a statement Monday, police spokesman Frank Giancamelli called the racial comments “abhorrent and absolutely unacceptable.”

He added that there is no evidence the speaker is a city employee, but the Office of Emergency Management and Communications and the police department continue to investigate.

"We have reviewed the audio from this incident and we do not believe the comments were made through the use of a city-programmed radio as the audio in question lacks identifying characteristics of an official police radio," said Melissa Stratton, spokeswoman for the Office of Emergency Management and Communication, which oversees city dispatchers.

"At this time, it is unknown who the unauthorized user is but OEMC will work with CPD as they investigate the matter," Stratton said in a statement.

Police Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the department is looking into the situation.

"The statements made are absolutely unacceptable and Supt. [John] Escalante has ordered an immediate internal-affairs investigation into this incident," Guglielmi said in a statement. "Should the investigation reveal that a member of the Police Department made the statements, he will be immediately suspended and disciplinary proceedings will be launched."