A city building inspector who flashed a fake silver badge while on the job was suspended for five days, Inspector General Joseph Ferguson said Monday. View Full Caption Flickr/Joselito Tagarao; Shutterstock

CITY HALL — A city building inspector who flashed a fake silver badge while on the job was suspended for five days, Inspector General Joseph Ferguson said Monday.

The unnamed building inspector "carried and displayed a star-shaped, silver metal badge bearing the City of Chicago seal and inscribed with 'Dept. of Buildings' and "Inspector,' Ferguson said in his quarterly report released Monday.

The building inspector "privately purchased" the fake badge from a uniform store, according to Ferguson's report.

In addition to carrying the made-up badge, the inspector violated the city rule against preferential treatment by referring a member of the public who needed home repairs to two specific private contractors, according to Ferguson's report.

The city's watchdog recommended the employee be disciplined, and the city's Department of Buildings suspended the inspector for five days — and made him give up the badge, according to Ferguson's report.