>>> FRESH CONTROVERSY FOR CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT.

ACCUSING THE MAYOR OF A BENDING POLICE -- ABANDONING PULLEYS.

>> SHE SAYS SHE BLAMES MAYOR LIGHTFOOT FOR PORTRAYING CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.

IT IS AN ACCUSATION THAT SHE DENIES.

IT IS OVER WHAT DISABILITY BENEFITS THE OFFICERS DESERVE IF THEY GOT IN IT BEFORE THE VACCINE WAS AVAILABLE.

EVERY WANTS TO EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC, IN 2021 IN IT WAS RAMPANT , AND QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

POLICE WERE STILL ON THE STREETS.

HER BROTHER, SERGEANT -- WORK 17 DAYS STRAIGHT.

ONE DAY, HE HAD A CALL.

TWO DAYS LATER, SHE WAS DRESSED TO THE -- RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH COVID.

HE SPENT 42 DAYS FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE.

>> COVID VICIOUSLY ATTACKED BOTH HIS RENAL AND -- SYSTEM.

HE LOST BOTH OF HIS KIDNEYS, REQUIRING THREE DAYS OF DIALYSIS A WEEK FOR THE REST OF HIS SHORTENED LIFE EXPECTANCY .

HE SUFFERED STROKES, LEAVING HIM DISABLED AND UNABLE TO PERFORM THE ONE THING YOU LOVE MOST, HIS JOB.

>> THIS IS WHY MENDOZA SAYS SHE WAS A GUEST WENDY -- ROLLED HER BROTHER DID NOT QUALIFY FOR LINE OF DUTY DISABILITY BENEFITS.

BECAUSE HE COULD IMPROVE PRECISELY WHEN, HOW AND FROM WHOM HE CONTRACTED COVID.

THEY SAYS HE QUALIFIED FOR A LESSER -- WITHOUT HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.

A FORMER CPD CAPTAIN WHO WORKED WITH HIM SAID THE BOARD SET AN IMPOSSIBLE STANDARD.

>> WHO CAN SAY HOW YOU CALL YOUR COVID?

CAN YOU POINT ANYONE IN THIS ROOM WHO HAD IT?

CAN YOU POINT TO THE INDIVIDUAL THEY GAVE IT TO YOU?

I DOUBT IT.

>> THE RULING CAME DESPITE A STATE LAW THAT PROVIDES IT IS ASSUMED POLICE OFFICERS WHO CONTRACTED COVID PRE-VACCINE ARE PRESUMED TO HAVE GOTTEN IT ON THE JOB, MEANING IF THEY DIE, THEIR FAMILY WOULD RECEIVE LINE OF DUTY DEATH BENEFITS.

>> IF YOU SURVIVE COVID AND BECOME DISABLED FROM IT , YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK.

THAT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

>> SERGEANT MENDOZA WAS THE FIRST CASE ATTORNEY SAY UP TO 20 OTHER CPD OFFICERS HAVE SIMILAR SITUATIONS THAT HAVE OR WILL BE SETTLED BY THE PENSION BOARD, INCLUDING OFFICER DIANA, WHO SAID SHE WORKED HARD TO GET PROMOTED AT THE CPD, ONLY TO BE FOUND NOT FIT FOR DUTY AFTER CONTRACTING COVID, AND THEN DENIED LINE OF DUTY BENEFITS.

>> IT FELT LIKE IT WAS JUST RIPPED RIGHT OUT OF MY CHEST.

THAT IS ALL I KNEW WAS MY WORK.

THAT IS ALL I WORK FOR.

>> SHE HAS TROUBLE BREATHING, SAYING MUCH, INCLUDING ANYTHING ABOUT POLITICS.

MENDOZA, SHE DOESN'T.

SHE SAYS MAYOR LIGHTFOOT IS AT FAULT .

TO MAKE THOSE RULINGS.

MAYOR LIGHTFOOT SAYS -- >> ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT I OR ANYONE IN MY ADMINISTRATION IS INDIFFERENT TO THE CAUSE AND SUFFERING OF FIRST RESPONDERS WHEN IT COMES TO COVID ISSUES, IT IS IS UTTER NONSENSE.

>> THE MAYOR DENIES THAT SHE GAVE PENSION APPOINTEES AND INSTRUCTIONS.

SHE SAYS IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE AND UNETHICAL.

SHE SAYS THE BOARD SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT AND CAN OPERATE WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR.

>> NO ONE GET SPECIAL TREATMENT BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, OR TO WHOM THEY ARE RELATED.

THAT DOESN'T CHANGE WITH IT IS THE WEEK BEFORE ELECTION, OR ANY OTHER TIME.

>> THE ELECTION IS NEXT WEEK.

WHAT ABOUT THE TIMING?

>> YOU CAN IGNORE THAT.

ALSO RECALL THAT MENDOZA DID RUN FOR MAYOR, AND OF COURSE LOSS.

MENDOZA, WHEN ASKED ABOUT HER, SHE SAYS THIS IS NOT POLITICAL.

SHE SAYS THAT THE TIMING IS SOLELY DEPENDENT ON THE BOARD'S ACTIONS, AND ALSO ON A RULING FROM A LOCAL COURT JUDGE.

BY THE WAY, THE JUDGE DID AGREE WITH THE PENSION BOARD.

THE MENDOZA'S ARE APPEALING.

>> WHAT IS NEXT?

>> ALSO , A NEW PROPOSAL IN SPRINGFIELD.

IT WOULD MAKE IT SO THAT FIRST RESPONDERS WHO GOT COVID BEFORE THE VACCINE AND NOW CAN WORK WOULD BE PRESUMED TO QUALIFY FOR LINE OF DUTY DISABILITY BENEFITS.

THAT