CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The head of the Chicago police officers union said enough is enough and that the union plans to fight what has become a regular practice: the superintendent canceling days-off and requiring officers to work 12-hour shifts.
"They do what they want every single time. To hell with the contract," said Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara.
Catanzara said what started out years ago with a police superintendent canceling days off and requiring 12-hour shifts for a couple of days during the summer has become a regular thing. He said it’s a violation of the police contract.
"Our members shouldn’t have to pay the price by giving up family time, personal time with friends, being fathers, mothers to their kids, spouses to their loved ones. It’s ridiculous, but this happens every year and we are going to start fighting it," he said.
Catanzara said police officers did not sign up for this.
"One of the days off we’re being cancelled for this week was because of George Floyd anniversary and the fear that maybe something was going to step off and they wanted to be prepared. That’s in violation of our contract. There has to be a declared emergency. There is no declared emergency," he said.
Just this week, the FOP issued a vote of “no confidence” in Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown, and First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter.
Mayor Lightfoot called the “no confidence” vote a badge of honor.
Related
