CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A Chicago City Council committee has set up another showdown over how the most serious police discipline cases will be handled.
Once again, the Council's Workforce Development Committee voted Tuesday to reject an arbitrator's ruling on arbitration. It said police officers facing firings or a year-long suspension or more could opt to have their disciplinary cases decided by closed door arbitration instead of the Police Board.
The arbitrator has refused to change his decision. So, the next move is up to the Council.
Committee Chair Ald. Michael Rodriguez acknowledged Tuesday this is likely headed to court after today's vote before the full City Council.
“The smallest percentage of cases that are most severe, 365 days of discipline or more, I think the public deserves as much insight on those cases as possible,” Rodriguez said.
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara said Tuesday the union is not afraid of a court fight. He noted that even lawyers on the City's side said the administration faces an uphill fight.
“They have a council meeting tomorrow that’s going to vote on this recommendation, and we will be in court, right across the street at 2:30 in the afternoon with an update in front of Judge Mullen, and they’re going to explain why this wasn’t resolved and basically dare him to do the work that they’re afraid to do,” Catanzara said.
Cecily Porter Adams, the City's chief labor negotiator said arbitrator Edwin Benn's ruling should not stand.
“His conclusions that are proposals are consistent with established law is simply wrong, as a matter of law,” Adams said. “They are also wrong as a matter of policy. They are wrong as a matter of transparency, and they are wrong for the City and the police department.”
Catanzara threatens this fight to be expensive.
“Our goal is to not only take you to civil court, but everyone who’s facing a police board case currently under this arbitration award but all the way back to 2018 when this proposal was first presented to the City.
Neither side sees much hope in settling this one verbally.
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