More than a third of Chicago police officers defy city vaccine mandate

Mhm. A fight between Chicago's police force and the mayor is about to come to a head. We're not having that city workers including police were due to declare their vaccination status Friday. But the head of the police union encouraged his officers to ignore the deadline. Do not fill out the portal information until a judge ordered him to stop. Captain Zara had suggested the force could find itself in a staffing crisis. Almost 40 can lock in a pension and walk away today. The shoe will drop monday when we find out how many officers failed to report and how many will be placed on unpaid leave In a city that struggles with the notoriously high rate of violent crime. Insubordination is not something that we can tolerate. It's an ongoing battle as deadlines keep rolling out across the country. In Seattle city staff have to prove they have their shots by monday or could lose their jobs. And in L. A. City staff need to be vaccinated by Wednesday. But the L. A. County sheriff says he can't risk losing officers so he won't enforce it. And we're going to continue pushing for people to get vaccinated. We'll continue mandating the testing but we're not gonna imposed on every employee. A health decision. Covid 19 is the leading cause of death for police officers in the U. S. This year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far more than 66% of americans age 12 and up are fully vaccinated and president biden has made his position clear. Getting that number up includes employers putting vaccine mandates in place marked Gebre Selassie's CBc news Washington.

About 4,500 Chicago police officers didn't report their vaccination status by Oct. 15 as mandated by the city, officials said Monday.That means roughly 35% of the city's 12,770 police officers could be placed on no-pay status in the foreseeable future.The Chicago Police Department had the lowest response rate of any department in the city, but of the about 64% who did report, the majority of officers say they are vaccinated, according to data released by the city.Specifically, 6,894 indicated being vaccinated while 1,333 reported they have not.Those who said they are not vaccinated are required to opt into twice weekly testing for COVID-19 until the end of the year to remain in compliance with the city policy.The city required employees to be either vaccinated or test two times a week by Oct. 15, and then report their status by that same deadline. Those who did not report their status risk being put on unpaid leave.City officials said the disciplinary process will be ongoing and likely happen on a rolling basis, but that this also "starts the process" of trying to get a final number of employees into compliance. The vaccine reporting portal is still open.One city official said, "It's not going to be an immediate 'we're firing you.' "The first step is employees will be sent home in a no-pay disciplinary status as the city vaccine policy is a condition of employment. As of Monday afternoon, no one has been disciplined yet, but that process can now begin at any time."It'll hopefully wake them up quickly," that city official said.Related video: Baltimore FOP pushes back on city's COVID-19 vaccine mandateMost Chicago departments had at or near a 100% response rate to the vaccine reporting requirement.A memo obtained by CNN states any civilian or sworn employee who disobeys a direct order to comply with the city's vaccination policy "will become the subject of a disciplinary investigation that could result in a penalty up to and including separation from the Chicago Police Department. Furthermore, sworn members who retire while under disciplinary investigations may be denied retirement credentials."A separate memo issued Saturday informed officers their elective time off would be restricted."Until further notice, the use of elective time by sworn CPD members is restricted. Furthermore, the use of elective time will require prior approval from the Deputy chief or above within the requesting member's chain of command," the memo obtained by CNN said.The memos were issued as the police union and Mayor Lori Lightfoot clash over the city's requirement that city employees be vaccinated and disclose their vaccine status. The deadline to do so was Friday.The union — the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police — filed a lawsuit Friday in Cook County Circuit Court last week alleging Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, the city and the police department have failed "to comply with the collective bargaining agreement's status quo."

About 4,500 Chicago police officers didn't report their vaccination status by Oct. 15 as mandated by the city, officials said Monday.

That means roughly 35% of the city's 12,770 police officers could be placed on no-pay status in the foreseeable future.

The Chicago Police Department had the lowest response rate of any department in the city, but of the about 64% who did report, the majority of officers say they are vaccinated, according to data released by the city.

Specifically, 6,894 indicated being vaccinated while 1,333 reported they have not.

Those who said they are not vaccinated are required to opt into twice weekly testing for COVID-19 until the end of the year to remain in compliance with the city policy.

The city required employees to be either vaccinated or test two times a week by Oct. 15, and then report their status by that same deadline. Those who did not report their status risk being put on unpaid leave.

City officials said the disciplinary process will be ongoing and likely happen on a rolling basis, but that this also "starts the process" of trying to get a final number of employees into compliance. The vaccine reporting portal is still open.

One city official said, "It's not going to be an immediate 'we're firing you.' "

The first step is employees will be sent home in a no-pay disciplinary status as the city vaccine policy is a condition of employment. As of Monday afternoon, no one has been disciplined yet, but that process can now begin at any time.

"It'll hopefully wake them up quickly," that city official said.

Related video: Baltimore FOP pushes back on city's COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Most Chicago departments had at or near a 100% response rate to the vaccine reporting requirement.

A memo obtained by CNN states any civilian or sworn employee who disobeys a direct order to comply with the city's vaccination policy "will become the subject of a disciplinary investigation that could result in a penalty up to and including separation from the Chicago Police Department. Furthermore, sworn members who retire while under disciplinary investigations may be denied retirement credentials."

A separate memo issued Saturday informed officers their elective time off would be restricted.

"Until further notice, the use of elective time by sworn CPD members is restricted. Furthermore, the use of elective time will require prior approval from the Deputy chief or above within the requesting member's chain of command," the memo obtained by CNN said.

The memos were issued as the police union and Mayor Lori Lightfoot clash over the city's requirement that city employees be vaccinated and disclose their vaccine status. The deadline to do so was Friday.

The union — the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police — filed a lawsuit Friday in Cook County Circuit Court last week alleging Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, the city and the police department have failed "to comply with the collective bargaining agreement's status quo."

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