Attorneys for the city of Chicago on Wednesday (Dec. 1) withdrew (https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/12/1/22813190/chicago-police-vaccine-mandate-lawsuit-dropped-reporting-fraternal-order-lightfoot-catanzara) a lawsuit against the rank-and-file police officers’ union after its fiery first-term president encouraged officers to defy Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 president John Catanzara had been outspoken against the mandate, which required all city employees to submit their COVID-19 vaccination status by mid-October.
Lightfoot filed a complaint against the police union after Catanzara encouraged officers not to comply with the mandate, with the city arguing that amounted to an illegal strike. The FOP countered with its own lawsuit against the city, seeking a suspension of the city’s policy.