CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A Key Chicago alderman says he is dropping his proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age for firefighters from 63 to 65. But, he still wants to allow police officers to stay on the job longer.
29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro, a former police sergeant, had proposed raising the mandatory retirement age for Chicago police and firefighters. But, some discouraging words were heard from one side of the equation, so Taliaferro says he’ll revise the idea.
“Our police department has been very supportive of it, and the union is supportive of it as well, the FOP,” Taliaferro says. “On the other side of things, the fire department is not so supportive of it nor is their union.”
When the measure is brought back before the Police and Fire Committee he chairs, it will be for CPD only.
The Firefighters argued that the physical requirements for their jobs were more rigorous, and older firefighters could be hurt. Of course, police and firefighters can retire earlier if they want to.
He says he understands the firefighters objections.
“Their job is a little bit more strenuous when it comes down to physical ability and agility…I understand the perspective that they are raising- the injuries that can cause to an aging fireman.
Police officials and the Fraternal Order of Police say their department can benefit by keeping older officers with experience and institutional knowledge on the job longer.
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