The City of Chicago has dropped its lawsuit Wednesday against the police union in its fight over a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city employees.
The city claims the complaint became unnecessary as more officers complied, but it comes a month after a judge embarrassed Mayor Lori Lightfoot by suspending her December 31 deadline.
Chicago had sued the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 in October, accusing President John Catanzara of encouraging an 'illegal strike' by encouraging officers to disobey the order.
After dropping the suit, Lightfoot vowed Wednesday that if union leaders revived talk of an 'illegal work stoppage' over the mandate, the city would return to court.
The city of Chicago has dropped its vaccine lawsuit Wednesday against the police union, after a judge suspended the deadline imposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot (above)
The city had sued the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 in October, accusing President John Catanzara (above) of encouraging an 'illegal strike'
Chicago's mandate for police caused concerns of a cop shortage at a time when the city is dealing with soaring violent crime.
So far this year, the city has seen 739 murders, a 3 percent increase from last year's already elevated figure and a 60 percent jump from 2019. Shootings are up 9 percent and 66 percent from 2020 and 2019 respectively.
Lightfoot's shaky standing with cops was worsened by the murder of Officer Ella French, with many turning their backs on the mayor when she visited French's wounded partner in hospital.
Having previously defunded the police department, Lightfoot has now backed plowing more money into it amid worsening crime in her city.
The city insisted that those who didn't comply with the vaccine mandate would eventually be placed on 'no-pay status.'
In public statements and on social media, Catanzara encouraged police to disobey the order, telling them, 'do not fall for it, hold the line.' The union also sued.
Lightfoot said the mandate was put in place to protect officers and the public, and the Democrat mayor accused the cop union of 'insurrection' for defying her orders.
More than 460 law enforcement officers have died of COVID-19, including four in Chicago, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
'From day one when this requirement was announced in August, this entire process has been and will continue to be about protecting the lives and safety of all Chicagoans,' Lightfoot said in a statement.
'The data shows that we are succeeding in that mission, and that police officers recognize that protecting and serving in the times of global pandemic means ensuring that they are vaccinated against COVID-19.'
Police have lagged behind other city departments in complying with steps in the city's vaccine requirements.
Employees must first report their vaccine status and then get vaccinated by year's end with few exceptions.
However, the percentage of the police department employees reporting their status increased from about 65 percent in October to about 87 percent this week, according to the city. Most other city departments are near or at 100 percent compliance.
Chicago police officers along with other city workers and their supporters protest at city hall the mayor's vaccination policy for city employees on October 25, 2021 in Chicago
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 members and their supporters protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates outside City Hall before a Chicago City Council meeting in October
Roughly 66 percent of police employees have been fully vaccinated, compared with about 75 percent of fire department employees.
Some much smaller departments, including the budget office, report a 100 percent vaccination rate, according to city data.
Last month, a judge suspended the December 31 deadline for police to be vaccinated but didn't interfere with a requirement that they be regularly tested.
The judge said the vaccination disputes should be handled as a labor grievance, which city officials said could take months.
Catanzara, who has repeatedly clashed with Lightfoot, retired as an officer last month as he faced disciplinary hearings over past incendiary comments.
He remains union president and did not immediately return a message left Wednesday seeking comment.
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