“Indiana State Police offers to hire Chicago officers who REFUSE TO COMPLY with vax mandate.”
Stand up for the facts!
Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.
I would like to contribute
Chicago police invited to apply to the Indiana State Police, but they haven’t been hired
If Your Time is short
- The chief public information officer for the Indiana State Police said this claim is inaccurate. The agency is currently hiring, but former Chicago police officers would have to apply and complete the academy for new recruits like everyone else before they’re hired.
- On Oct. 20, another spokesperson for Indiana State Police tweeted encouraging Chicago officers to apply but did not offer to hire them.
About two dozen Chicago police officers have been sent home without pay for refusing to report their vaccination status, according to news reports, but a screenshot of a tweet being shared on social media perhaps brought welcome news to those opposed to the city’s vaccine mandate.
"BREAKING REPORT," says the tweet from Chuck Callesto, a former Florida congressional candidate. "Indiana State Police offers to hire Chicago officers who REFUSE TO COMPLY with vax mandate."
This post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
Capt. Ronald Galaviz, chief public information officer for the Indiana State Police, told PolitiFact that the post is inaccurate. The agency is hiring, he said, and "the application process is open to anyone who wishes to apply for a career with the Indiana State Police."
That could, of course, mean a former Chicago police officer, but they would have to apply and complete the necessary academy and training before they’re hired, just like everyone else, Galaviz said.
Featured Fact-check
On Oct. 20, another spokesperson for the department, Sgt. Glen Fifield, tweeted: "Hey Chicago police officers, we’re hiring! No vaccine mandate."
A day earlier, Indiana Sen. Mike Braun tweeted something similar: "My office stands ready to help connect Chicago police officers to an Indiana police department that is hiring now and doesn’t have a vaccine mandate."
Fifield’s tweet has since been deleted, but both his and Braun’s drew headlines like one from the Hill that said "Indiana recruiting unvaccinated Chicago officers."
But that doesn’t support the claim that Indiana State Police has offered to hire Chicago officers who refuse to get vaccinated.
We rate this post False.
Our Sources
Instagram post, Oct. 21, 2021
Chuck Callesto tweet, Oct. 21, 2021
ABC 7, Chicago police officers opposed to city worker vaccine mandate gather at CPD HQ, Oct. 26, 2021
City of Chicago, City of Chicago employee vaccination policy, visited Oct. 27, 2021
The Hill, Indiana recruiting unvaccinated Chicago officers, Oct. 21, 2021
Sne. Mike Braun tweet, Oct. 19, 2021
Interview with Capt. Ronald Galaviz, chief public information officer, Indiana State Police, Oct. 27, 2021
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Ciara O'Rourke
Chicago police invited to apply to the Indiana State Police, but they haven’t been hired
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.