Chicago City Wire

Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas (nonpartisan) is criticizing the treatment police officers for the City of Chicago have received under Mayor Lori Lightfoot. 

Vallas' comments came after a video was shared on Facebook where police officers' cars were towed after they were called to the Academy before dawn during their day off. According to WGN, the officers were called in to work the Chicago Marathon. The cars were towed to clear the road for the marathon, and warning signs were posted.

“Lightfoot & Brown cancelled days off again," Vallas said on Twitter. "Hundreds of Officers called to 4am roll call at the Academy. The city is towing their personal cars.  You can’t make this up. You would think that Officers would be extended Police courtesy. Not in this city. Not this administration."

Cook County Commissioner candidate Matt Podgorski earlier called attention to the way the City of Chicago has been treating its police force. 

“Because the CPD failed to recruit, hire, and staff at adequate numbers, Chicago’s Finest are forced to work 12, 16, even 20 days in a row, without a single day off, Podgorski said. "That is unacceptable."

In late 2021 Lightfoot backed off of a mandate requiring all police officers to receive a COVID vaccine. Still, Lightfoot filed an injunction at the time seeking to stop Chicago Police officers “from engaging in, supporting or encouraging any work stoppage or strike by refusing to comply with the City’s lawful” vaccination policy. 

Vallas’ ties to public service in Chicago and Illinois go back to 1985 when he was executive director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission, a capacity he served in until 1995. Afterward, he was an appointee of Democratic Mayor Richard M. Daley as CEO of Chicago Public Schools from 1995 to 2001. CPS is the fourth largest school district in the country. He last ran as lieutenant governor of Illinois in the 2014 elections with running mate incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn.

The election for Chicago mayor is set for Feb. 28, 2023.