Illinois FOP Opposes Vaccine Mandate For Certain Officers

CHICAGO, IL — Illinois Fraternal Order of Police leaders have expressed opposition to vaccine mandates for employees in prisons and some government offices.

Governor J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday that state employees working in certain areas, including prisons, are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Scot Ward, president of FOP Corrections Lodge 263, said officers are "opposed to being forced to take (the vaccine)."

"It is always dangerous when the state unilaterally decides to deny the Constitutional rights of targeted groups of citizens, such as our members who work in prisons and juvenile facilities," Ward said in a statement. "Even the detainees we supervise are not being forced to take these vaccinations.

FOP Corrections Lodge 263 members work for the Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced this week that employees at Secretary of State offices must be vaccinated by September 1 or undergo COVID-19 testing every two weeks.

Terry Trueblood, president of FOP Illinois Secretary of State Lodge 95, said the government is "vaccine shaming" public safety employees.

"The state should instead do a better job of convincing its citizens, regardless of where they work, to choose to take the vaccine," he said in a news release.

FOP Lodge 95 members include law enforcement officers who work at the Illinois Capitol Complex and Secretary of State.

Last week, White also mandated all employees and customers at Driver Service facilities, the Illinois State Capitol, and Secretary of State offices must wear masks.