Chicago Police Officers Defy Vaccine Mandates

According to city officials, about 4,500 Chicago police officers have defied a city mandate.

Police departments across the country are bracing for potential staffing shortages. According to city officials, about 4,500 Chicago police officers have defied a city mandate that required them to report their vaccination status by October 15th. Now, about 35 percent of the city’s nearly 13,000 officers could be placed on no-pay status. The Chicago Police Department had the lowest response rate of any department in the city. Put of about 64 percent of law enforcement officers who did submit their report, the majority say they are vaccinated. Those who said they are not vaccinated will have to test for covid-19 two times per week until the end of the year to remain in compliance with the city policy. Meanwhile those who did not report their status risk being put on unpaid leave. City officials say the disciplinary process will be ongoing and that this starts the process of trying to get a final number of employees into compliance. As of yesterday afternoon, no officers had been disciplined but that process can now begin at any time.