Some suburban Chicago cops allowed to work half drunk

3 months ago

Clause in union contract prevents discipline for showing up to work with a BAC of .05 or less, .08 in some cities.

Many suburban departments actually have clauses in their  union contracts which prevent any kind of discipline for officers with  substantial amounts of alcohol in their systems -- even those nearing the state  definition of legally drunk, an investigation by the Better Government  Association and NBC Chicago reveals.

"I worry about it every day," said Sam Pulia, the mayor  of west suburban Westchester.

Pulia, himself a former Westchester police officer, tried  unsuccessfully to stop ratification of his department’s union contract which  only allows discipline against officers when they hit an alcohol level of  .05.

Westchester is not alone.  Police in Forest Park, Glendale Heights, and South  Barrington also have a limit of .05.  In Elmwood Park and Oak Park, the limit is  the state definition of legally drunk:  .08 or higher.

Read more here.