Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says “99%” of criticism against her is sexist and racist
- Chicago dropped its vaccine lawsuit against the police union on Wednesday
- City insists the measure is no longer necessary due to high vaccine compliance
- But it follows a ruling striking down Lightfoot’s December 31 deadline for shots
- City claims police union boss encouraged an ‘illegal strike’ to protest
- City says about 87% of CPD employees now report that they are vaccinated
By Keith Griffith For Dailymail.com and Associated Press
Published: 02:01 EST, 2 December 2021 | Updated: 02:05 EST, 2 December 2021
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.
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.
PA Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 38 