Maybe the CPD manpower shortage isn't as acute as we thought

Chicago's Police Department is so understaffed that Rahm Emanuel made it a campaign issue.  Why, if he were elected he'd put another 1000 cops on the street.

On 14 September 2011, Sun-Times reporter/columnist Mark Brown noted:

At least half the police officers that Emanuel and Police Supt. Garry McCarthy have redeployed since May to help them say they’ve met that goal were already working ON THE STREET fighting crime.

Mark Brown doesn't note, however, that CPD's union contract permits full-paid time off of 12 months out of every 24 month period.  Colleagues of mine thought that statement couldn't possibly be true.  I agreed - it seemed hyperbolic.  So I went to the current FOP contract:

Section 18.2 — Non-I.O.D.
Any officer absent from work on account of non-I.O.D. injury or illness for any period of time not exceeding twelve (12) months in any twenty-four (24) consecutive month period, shall receive full pay and benefits for the period of absence, provided such injury or illness is certified by the Medical Services Section. Such certification shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 I.O.D., incidentally, is injury on duty.  That is covered in a preceding section.

Maybe if the cops had sick leave allowances that were reality-based, the manpower shortage wouldn't be so acute.