The head of one of Chicago’s police unions estimated that more than 3,000 officers are refusing to comply with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine reporting mandate, coming as the city sent out several threatening memos to officers in recent days.
On Monday, officers who won’t report their vaccination status could be immediately suspended without pay, Catanzara predicted. But the citywide mandate, he argued, is illegal because Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration didn’t negotiate with the union.
A memo sent by top officials in the Chicago Police Department to staff on Sunday threatened the firing of officers who refuse to comply with the city’s vaccine policy. Police officers who retire while under investigation could be denied their retirement, the memo also warned.
“A Department member, civilian or sworn, who disobeys a direct order by a supervisor to comply with the City of Chicago’s Vaccination Police issued 8 October 2021 will become the subject of a disciplinary investigation that could result in a penalty up to and including separation from the Chicago Police Department,” said the memo, which was obtained by The Epoch Times. “Furthermore, sworn members who retire while under disciplinary investigations may be denied retirement credentials.”
On Sunday night, the Fraternal Order of Police issued a sharply worded response on Facebook.
Earlier this month, Lightfoot agreed to allow city workers to stay unvaccinated until the end of 2021 but submit COVID-19 test results twice per week. Under the memo, workers have to fill out a city form reporting their vaccination status regardless of whether they have received the vaccine or not.
The Epoch Times has contacted the Chicago Police Department for additional comment.
