(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A Chicago City Council committee has found the police and fire departments split over a proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age for cops and firefighters.
Ald. Chris Taliaferro, 29th, who chairs the Police and Fire Committee, said elected leaders should consider raising the retirement age from 63 to 65.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara said the union favors keeping experienced officers around longer to take advantage of their knowledge and experience. Angel Novales, an official with the Chicago Police Department, concurred with that viewpoint.
But Evan Haim, the general counsel for the Chicago Fire Department, tried to throw water on the idea of raising the retirement age. He and District Chief Jamar Sullivan argued raising the age increases the chances of firefighters getting injured.
When Taliaferro asked Sullivan how he knows that, Sullivan conceded he has no studies or statistics back it up.
The committee took no vote, and discussions on the issue were expected to continue at a later date.
Also Monday, the committee voted for CPD to do a comprehensive study of its staffing and deployment of officers in its efforts to combat crime.
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