Chicago City Wire

Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police said in a tweet that Chicago Police officers weren't permitted take off Father's Day for the second year in a row, and this year they couldn't take off any days during the whole week. CPD officers also couldn't take off over Memorial Day weekend. The department has lost more officers than it has gained over the last several years, leaving them short-staffed.

"For a second year in a row, @ChiefDavidBrown and @LoriLightfoot have canceled #FathersDay for every single @Chicago_Police dad across the city. Even worse this year, all days off are canceled for the entire week. They both clearly don't believe in a "work-life balance" for cops," tweeted the Fraternal Order of Police in Chicago.

A week's worth of Chicago Police Officers' days off were also canceled last month, with officers being told any days off between May 24 and 31 were canceled, ABC Chicago reported. Officers were also informed that they might be put on 12-hour shifts during that time. "The escape from this job and the tragic things we see on a daily basis, to be able to go on vacation or even just spend time with your family at a barbecue, it is decompression time that is sorely needed," said John Catanzara, president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police. 900 CPD officers left the force between January and October of 2021, while only 51 new officers joined during that time period. Catanzara estimated that the police force is "probably 2,000-plus under our all-time high."

Chicago's Fraternal of Police tweeted last June, "Thousands of fathers will not be with their kids on #FathersDay because of two people: @LoriLightfoot and @ChiefDavidBrown. EVERY Chicago Police Officer has been forced to work 12+ hours days with ALL days off canceled this #FathersDay weekend. Zero "work-life balance," again."

As of June 12, there had been 268 murders, 1,075 shooting incidents, 895 criminal sexual assaults, 3,486 robberies, 2,412 aggravated batteries, 3,094 burglaries, 7,364 thefts, and 5,586 motor vehicle thefts reported in the City of Chicago in 2022, according to data from the Chicago Police Department. Compared to the same time period last year, burglaries have increased by 33%, motor vehicle thefts have increased by 39%, and thefts have increased by 66%.