Chicago City Wire

The Fraternal Order of Police vice president Michael Mette has words of advice for police officers put on unpaid leave for not uploading their COVID vaccine status.

Police officers with the Chicago Police Department have been threatened with losing their jobs for not uploading their vaccine status to a portal.

“Quick money. Sign up for Uber or Lyft. I know it is not prestigious but it saved my house,” Mette said in a Facebook video on the FOP’s official page.  

Mette’s statement was aimed at the 21 police officers the Chicago Police Department recently announced would be put on unpaid leave and possibly lose their rank or their jobs for not uploading their status.

“Welcome to day three of ‘The Hunger Games,’ where we find out who the city is going to offer up as tribute,” Mette said prior to the suspensions being announced.  

As of Tuesday nearly 32 percent of the police force had held out on uploading their vaccine status.

“If we fail to make them bargain with us on this issue, what issue is next?” Mette said. “For all you young coppers out there, you got a long way to go and don’t think it can’t get worse.”

Mette, an 18-year veteran of the force, has been installed as the FOP’s spokesman after FOP President John Catanzara was restricted by court from making public statements regarding officer use of the COVID portal.

Several members of the Chicago Fire Department are also holding out and not uploading their vaccination status. Mette said firefighters are being told not to come to work but are not facing retaliation or being threatened with losing their jobs.