Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) revealed Friday that she has directed her administration to file a Complaint for Injunctive Relief versus the Chicago Fraternal Order of Authorities, implicating it of “appealing in, supporting, and motivating a work blockage or strike” after union leader John Catanzara called on officers to defy the city’s vaccine required due date.
“As Chicago’s Mayor, I can not and will not stand idly by while the rhetoric of conspiracy theorists threatens the health and wellness of Chicago’s citizens and first responders,” Lightfoot stated in a declaration gotten by NBC 5. “President Catanzara has time and again intentionally misguided our police officers by lying about the requirements of the policy and falsely claiming that there will be no effects if officers are insubordinate and refuse to follow a City and Department regulation or order.”
In this Friday, June 5, 2020 file picture Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara speaks to reporters outside the FOP lodge in Chicago. (Tyler LaRiviere/Sun Times by means of AP)
Lightfoot’s actions followed Catanzara threatened to take legal action versus the mayor over the vaccine required, which needs city workers to report their vaccination status by Friday. Under Lightfoot’s rules, officers need to confirm their vaccine status or undergo overdue leave. Unvaccinated officers can remain on the task if they go through semiweekly testing.
“It’s safe to say that the city of Chicago will have a police force at 50% or less for this weekend turning up,” the cops union head cautioned.
Chicago Police Officers monitor the Occupy City Hall Protest and Automobile Caravan hosted by Chicago Teachers Union in Chicago, Illinois, on August 3, 2020.( Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP through Getty Images )Catanzara’s comments were initially reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Lightfoot countered at Catanzara’s caution by implicating him of propagating misinformation, branding his remarks “false or patently false.”
“What we’re concentrated on is making certain that we maximize the opportunity to develop an extremely safe work environment,” the mayor stated, according to the Associated Press. “The information is very clear. It is unfortunate that the FOP leadership has selected to put out a counter-narrative. But the fact of the matter is, if you are not immunized, you are having fun with your life, the life of your family, the life of your coworkers and members of the public.”
On Thursday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) used to activate the state’s National Guard if the required triggers officer scarcities in Chicago.
“I believe you understand by now that you can’t simply march National Guard into a city without collaborating, and you can’t simply march state cops into a city without collaborating with the Chicago Police Department,” Pritzker said. “So at every turn, we have continuing conversations with them, but we need the management of the city to ask us.”