Chicago cops must get COVID-19 shots, arbitrator rules

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot won a round in her fight to make Chicago Police Department workers get their COVID-19 vaccinations. Now all city employees, including police officers, must be vaccinated.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s mandate for city employees to be vaccinated passed its final test: An arbitrator ruled in favor of the mandate for police officers Feb. 23.

Lodge 7 of the Fraternal Order of Police challenged the mandate when Lightfoot first announced it in August. FOP President John Catanzara led the fight, calling the vaccine mandate an overreach.

Up until 2022, officers who didn’t want to disclose their vaccination status had the option to provide a negative test. Now vaccination is their only option to keep their jobs.

Lightfoot made the announcement after the most recent City Council meeting, saying she hoped the decision would serve as a “signal for those members who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated.”