I am not sure why the police unions are so adamantly against the COVID vaccine mandate. The police are most at risk of being infected by being out there and interacting with the public every day.
Once vaccinated, they would have a much reduced chance of infection and, if it happened, they would not be hospitalized or die. You would think that would be a huge incentive; It saves their lives, as well as the lives of those around them.
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara claims, “Nobody knows what the long-term side effects could possibly be.” Well, we do know that they can’t be worse than dying on a ventilator with COVID.
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We also know, from a long history of vaccines such as polio, measles and mumps that the record has been outstanding.
It is time for the police, and any others who are hesitant, to look up the facts, talk to their doctors and get vaccinated. This will allow the virus to die out, prevent more variants to develop and the country can go back to a normal life.
Carol Kraines, Deerfield
A disgraceful leader
John Catanzara should be ashamed of his shameful and truly baby-like statements against having all his members — who work amongst the public every day — vaccinated.
Since I know he is not ashamed, I can only think he believes he is some kind of patriotic hero.
He forgets who he serves and is a disgraceful leader.
Joe Muszynski, Lakeview
CPS parent speaking up
While asking for even more COVID safety measures, Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey said he “urge[s] parents to be involved in this process, to pay attention to the conditions in your student’s classrooms and to continue speaking out.”
Taking his advice, as a CPS parent of three kids and a local school council member, I’ll speak out: Enough, Jesse.
You represent teachers, not parents. Just stop. You have made being a squeaky wheel an art form, but left behind is the silent majority. The silent majority of parents want schools fully open. We want fewer restrictions. We understand the risk and accept it, and those of us who don’t can hold our kids back.
Stop whining. Stop being obstructionist. Stop claiming to speak for families. Just teach.
William Choslovsky, Lincoln Park
ShotSpotter results
Thursday’s editorial states that Chicago police need to prove that the ShotSpotter works, saying that it is hard to judge whether responding to the system’s alerts is the best use of police time.
An article in the same day’s paper describes how a felon who was killed by Amtrak police was caught murdering someone three days prior in California by a ShotSpotter.
There’s your proof that it works!
Michael Ragano, Schaumburg
