Chicago judge suspends city's vaccine deadline for police officers

A Chicago judge on Monday suspended the Dec. 31 deadline for police officers to get vaccinated, blocking Mayor Lori Lightfoot's vaccine mandate from taking effect.

Cook County Judge Raymond Mitchell issued the ruling, sending the "parties back to the bargaining table" in order to resolve certain grievances raised by the police union.

According to Fox News, the city can still place officers on administrative leave if they do not disclose their vaccine status, however, they cannot be fired until an arbiter decides the labor disputes.

Previously, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police John Catanzara directed his members to defy the mayor's mandate by not disclosing their status. However, Mitchell called the reporting requirement a "minimal intrusion" that can be resolved at a later date.

The judge's order only pertains to Chicago police officers, all other city employees must comply with Mayor Lightfoot's vaccine mandate.

Currently, about 58% of the police force has been vaccinated, while 27% still have not reported their status.