A New York judge on Wednesday denied a last-minute effort by New York City’s largest police union to halt the city government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate that goes into effect starting next week, a decision that may send about a quarter of the force home without leave. Richmond County Supreme Court Judge Lizette Colon, whose court is on Staten Island, denied the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) union’s request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the city’s sweeping vaccine mandate for city employees, which includes all NYPD employees. The PBA represents about 23,000 current and retired NYPD officers. Colon’s ruling came just hours after hearing arguments from lawyers for the PBA and the city. Although the TRO request was denied, the lawsuit from the PBA will proceed after it was filed on Monday. The suit seeks to have the vaccine mandate declared illegal and blocked from taking effect. Colon ordered city officials to appear …