Blue Island Mayor To Address Decision To Shut Down Police Department Amid COVID-19 Concerns
CHICAGO (CBS)-- The mayor of Blue Island will explain his decision today to shut down the entire police department after an officer tests positive for COVID-19.
That shocking move was made by Blue Island Mayor Domingo Vargas after a second person connected to Blue Island PD was hospitalized and is now awaiting COVID-19 results.
The mayor said he felt until every officer could be tested and cleared, they all posed a threat, so he shut down the station.
CBS 2's Eric Cox talked to the mayor ahead of his speech. He explained his reasoning and why anxiety over the coronavirus is intensifying among other city workers.
Mayor Domingo Vargas told CBS 2, employees at city hall right next to the police department are worried about interacting with officers, days after one tested positive for COVID-19.
Some city hall workers even signaled they may not show up for their shifts.
"They're looking out not only for their interests, but their health and their families," Vargas said.
This new dilemma comes on the heels of another controversy, the mayor telling police not to report to work for 14 days.
"We wanted them to be isolated until we got the greenlight that everybody was fine and safe to come back," Vargas said.
But city council reversed his order during an emergency meeting just a day later.
With one confirmed case of COVID-19, Mayor Vargas says they're awaiting test results on a second person in the hospital tied to the police department.
He also has unanswered questions about 4 other employees here showing symptoms. He said there is a "big unknown."
A big unknown the mayor wants made clear to protect the community during this pandemic.
Sharp criticism from both local and state leaders came quick with police unable to patrol.
Representative Robert Rita said he caused "a major panic."
"If you need to get them out the building to sanitize then get them out to do that but you don't tell the entire department to take off for two weeks," Alderman Fred Bilotto said.
The officers are back patrolling and the entire department was sanitized, but the mayor still has concerns.
The mayor is expected to hold a news conference and better explain what worries him about this pandemic later Tuesday.
