Chicago PD Threatens LEOSA Status over COVID

[Craig_AR]

The FOP and Chicago PD are at odds over mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. Now the city is pushing back. A Chicago Tribune article re-published at Police1 reported
"The police memo, sent Sunday night by a member of Superintendent David Brown’s office staff, also threatens officers who might choose to retire rather than get the vaccine. It says: 'sworn members who retire while under disciplinary investigations may be denied retirement credentials.' ”

The article goes on to say the FOP has provided members with specific language to use if given a direct order to report their vaccination status. There is no mention of the importance of retired police credentials for exercising rights under LEOSA.

As a variation to the anti-police government actions in Portland, this situation could get quite interesting.

 

[old lady new shooter]

Very very interesting, thank you for posting this, I hadn't seen it anywhere else.

 

[Jeff White]

Vaccine mandates in Illinois possibly violate state law. The Healthcare Right of Conscious Act was passed in 1977 IIRC. It forbids any type of discrimination against a person based on a healthcare decision they make.

It was intended to protect medical professionals from discrimination for refusing to perform abortions, fill certain prescriptions etc.

It’s been cited in a couple lawsuits against the vaccine mandate in schools and it has the Pritzker administration worried enough that it’s rumored they may try to change the law in the Fall Veto Session that started today.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2082&ChapterID=58

This is the relevant paragraph that’s been cited in the other lawsuits:

745 ILCS 70/5) (from Ch. 111 1/2, par. 5305)
Sec. 5. Discrimination. It shall be unlawful for any person, public or private institution, or public official to discriminate against any person in any manner, including but not limited to, licensing, hiring, promotion, transfer, staff appointment, hospital, managed care entity, or any other privileges, because of such person's conscientious refusal to receive, obtain, accept, perform, assist, counsel, suggest, recommend, refer or participate in any way in any particular form of health care services contrary to his or her conscience.
(Source: P.A. 90-246, eff. 1-1-98.)

 

[RickD427]

The city may have a big Bargaining Chip (even if an unfair one) in all of this.

One of the requirements for a retired LEO to carry a concealed firearm under LEOSA is that they possess a retired ID Card that contains required elements of identification.

However, there is no requirement in the LEOSA, or elsewhere in the federal law, that requires agencies to issue such cards to their retirees.

My first LE agency adopted a policy that they would not issue LEOSA compliant cards to medical retirees. They appear to have done this to discourage members from taking early medical retirements. So far the policy has held up.

 

[Frank Ettin]

Borderline off-topic and it looks like the thread isn't going anywhere anyway.