Chicago police union leaders are asking officers to turn down overtime during the Labor Day weekend, but the city’s police superintendent said he’s not worried about a staffing shortage.
To boost the number of cops on the street during the July 4th weekend, the Chicago Police Department relied on giving officers overtime to flood crime-ridden neighborhoods. The weekend was the least deadly July 4th weekend in years, however, the next holiday weekend may be different.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is asking its members to refuse voluntary overtime, call it FOP Unity Days.
“This is one weekend we are saying stay home, you have earned it,” said Dean Angelo, FOP President.
His overtime request is a way for officers to stand up for each other during a time when, he said, police are getting little public support.
“There is a sense of so much lack of respect out here. Not only here, but around the country,” Angelo said.
