Sarah Bennett
Police officers are sworn to protect the public good, and vaccinations are a basic public health measure. Despite this, police officers have been among the most resistant to getting vaccinated against COVID-19. In the US, COVID-19 is the biggest cause of death for police officers, with more than 500 law enforcement officers dying after contracting the virus. Police unions have been vocal in their opposition to vaccine mandates for their members, with some threatening to sue cities that impose such mandates. While vaccination rates for police officers are rising as mandates kick in, there are still instances of dissent, with officers protesting and refusing to comply with vaccine requirements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Police unions against vaccine mandates | Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, San Jose, Cincinnati |
| Police unions supporting vaccine mandates | Chicago Teachers Union |
| Police officers' reasons for not getting vaccinated | "Personal choice", individual rights being infringed, "don't want to be told what to do", distrust in the vaccine |
| Police officers' actions against mandates | Protests, threats to sue, filing for exemptions |
| Police departments' actions against mandates | Not enforcing mandates, allowing for frequent testing instead, offering incentives for unvaccinated cops |
| Countries with police vaccine mandates | Australia, the US |
| States/cities with police vaccine mandates | New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Tucson |
| Consequences for unvaccinated police officers | Unpaid leave, loss of job, taking accrued leave without pay |
| COVID-19 as a cause of death for police officers | Yes, it is the biggest cause of job-related deaths among US police officers |
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What You'll Learn
Police unions against vaccine mandates
Police unions across the United States have been firmly against rules requiring their members to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In Chicago, the clash between police and city officials over the city's vaccine mandate has grown so contentious that a judge ordered the local union president to stop making public statements after the city's attorney accused him of "municipal sedition and treason." Catanzara had responded to the mandate with "Hell no," analogizing the directive to something out of the Holocaust.
In New York City, the Police Benevolent Association, led by President Pat Lynch, promised to sue the city if Mayor Bill de Blasio required cops to get vaccinated. A union chief in Cincinnati warned city leaders that a strict mandate without an option for frequent testing "would be a bad policy for a department that is struggling to retain and attract enough police officers." A San Jose union leader made similar statements, saying a vaccine mandate would "decimate" his department.
In Los Angeles, thousands of people, including police officers, protested the vaccination deadline for city workers. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that only 75% of its 12,000 workers had been vaccinated. In Massachusetts, at least 150 state police officers resigned or submitted paperwork to do so after Charlie Baker's vaccine mandate took effect, according to the union. The state has not confirmed these numbers, but union officials say the resignations exacerbate an already difficult staffing situation.
Police unions have raised concerns that tough enforcement of vaccine mandates could result in staffing shortages. Opponents of vaccine mandates have filed lawsuits to block them, but these have largely been rejected by judges.
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Police protests against mandates
Police officers are sworn to promote and protect the public good, and vaccinations are a basic public health measure. However, police officers in various cities across the United States have been protesting against vaccine mandates, threatening to sue cities that impose such mandates. In New York City, the Police Benevolent Association, led by President Pat Lynch, vowed to sue the city if Mayor Bill de Blasio required cops to get vaccinated. Similarly, the Fraternal Order of Police President in Chicago, John Catanzara, vehemently opposed a mandate for all public employees, drawing a comparison to the Holocaust.
Protests by police officers against vaccine mandates have taken place in several cities. In New York, police officers joined firefighters and other civil servants in shutting down a part of the Brooklyn Bridge to demonstrate against the city's mandate. Some officers carried signs stating, "We Will Not Comply." In Los Angeles, police officers, including one in uniform, participated in a protest against the vaccination deadline for city workers. The Los Angeles Police Department reported a 75% vaccination rate among its 12,000 workers.
The resistance to vaccine mandates among police officers has been attributed to various factors. Some officers believe they are young and healthy enough to survive COVID-19 infections, while others view mandates as an infringement on their individual rights. Police unions have strongly opposed vaccine requirements for their members, arguing that mandates could lead to staff shortages in departments already facing retention challenges.
The refusal to get vaccinated by some police officers has been criticized as a betrayal of their oath to protect the public. COVID-19 is the leading cause of job-related deaths among U.S. police professionals, with more than 500 law enforcement officers dying from the virus. Despite this, vaccination rates among law enforcement officers remain at or below the general public. The outcry from law enforcement against vaccine mandates has been particularly pronounced, with some officers choosing to resign or face disciplinary action rather than comply.
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COVID-19 as the biggest cop killer
COVID-19 has emerged as the biggest killer of police officers, yet cops are among the most resistant to getting vaccinated. Police unions across the United States are firmly against rules requiring their members to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In Chicago, after Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a vaccine mandate for all city employees, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara responded with an emphatic "Hell no." Similar resistance has been observed in other cities, including New York, Cincinnati, San Jose, and Los Angeles.
Despite the high death toll among law enforcement officers due to COVID-19, vaccine mandates have faced strong opposition from police unions and officers themselves. More than 500 law enforcement officers have died from COVID-19, making it the leading cause of job-related deaths among U.S. police professionals, surpassing even gunfire. However, vaccination rates among police officers remain low, often at or below the rates of the general public.
The resistance to vaccine mandates among police officers stems from various factors. Some officers believe they are young and healthy enough to survive COVID-19 infections, while others view mandates as an infringement on their individual rights. The notion of personal choice and the reluctance to be told what to do have influenced the vaccine hesitancy within the police force. Additionally, political ideology and a lack of trust in the vaccine have also contributed to the low vaccination rates among law enforcement officers.
The refusal to get vaccinated among police officers has been criticized as a betrayal of their oath to protect the public. As front-line workers, police officers have a responsibility to promote and protect public health, which includes getting vaccinated against a deadly virus. The high number of COVID-19 deaths among police officers could have been prevented if more officers chose to get vaccinated.
While some police departments, such as the Los Angeles Police Department, have enforced vaccine mandates, others have left the decision to individual officers. The differing approaches have resulted in varying vaccination rates among departments. The debate over vaccine mandates for police officers continues, with public safety and the health of law enforcement officers at the forefront of the discussion.
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Police vaccine hesitancy in the US
Police officers in the US have exhibited resistance to getting vaccinated against COVID-19. This resistance has been observed in big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, where police unions have strongly opposed vaccine mandates for their members. While the exact reasons for this hesitancy vary, some officers believe it is a personal choice, while others feel that being young and healthy will protect them from severe infection.
The resistance to vaccine mandates among police officers has led to protests and threats of legal action. For example, the New York Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch threatened to sue the city if vaccine mandates were imposed on cops. Similarly, in Chicago, the Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara responded with "Hell no" to the idea of a mandate, drawing an analogy to the Holocaust. In Los Angeles, police officers, including one in uniform, joined a protest against the vaccination deadline for city workers.
The hesitancy among police officers is particularly concerning given that COVID-19 is the biggest cause of on-the-job deaths for law enforcement officers in the US. More than 500 officers have died from the virus, making it a greater risk than other causes of death like gun violence, car crashes, or drownings. Despite this, vaccination rates among police officers remain lower than or comparable to the general population, raising concerns about their potential to spread the virus in the communities they serve.
Some police departments have taken steps to address vaccine hesitancy, such as prioritizing law enforcement for vaccination access. However, the strong opposition from police unions and individual officers has been a significant challenge in the effort to increase vaccination rates among this group. The resistance to vaccine mandates among police officers in the US is a complex issue that requires careful consideration of public health, individual rights, and the unique risks faced by those in law enforcement.
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Police vaccine mandates in Australia
In Australia, Covid-19 vaccine mandates for police officers have been a contentious issue, with some states implementing them while others have not. As of March 2022, South Australia Police (SAPOL) lifted their vaccine mandate, allowing unvaccinated officers to return to work. However, they must take a rapid antigen test and wear masks while on duty. Previously, SAPOL had a vaccination rate of over 98.5%, higher than the general population of South Australia.
In New South Wales (NSW), Covid-19 vaccines were made mandatory for all police employees, with a deadline of September 30 for the first dose and November 30 to be fully vaccinated. This decision was due to the force's frontline role in the state's pandemic response. By September, over 17,000 of the force's 21,000 employees were fully or partially vaccinated. NSW was the first state in Australia to begin living with the virus, reopening in October 2021.
In Victoria, 43 police staff were stood down and faced potential termination for failing to comply with the state's vaccine mandate. Under Victorian law, emergency service workers, including police, were required to book their vaccination by October 15 and receive the first dose by a specified date.
Queensland Police Service (QPS) faced some resistance to vaccine mandates, with over 130 staff suspended for non-compliance. A group of QPS officers challenged the mandate in court, arguing that their rights had been infringed. However, the majority of QPS officers were vaccinated, and the challenge was unsuccessful.
Overall, the majority of Australia's police staff are vaccinated, and vaccine mandates have been issued in multiple states. While there has been some kickback and legal challenges, the focus on vaccination aims to protect both the community and police officers themselves, particularly those on the frontline of the pandemic response.
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Frequently asked questions
Requirements vary by location. In some places, like Chicago, police officers are not ordered to go home if they refuse to report their vaccination status, but they may be placed on unpaid leave. In other places, like New York City, police unions have threatened to sue the city if it imposes vaccine mandates on cops. In South Australia, police workers who do not have an approved medical exemption are required to take accrued leave or special leave without pay until they can comply with the vaccination requirements.
Some police officers believe they are young and healthy enough to survive COVID-19 infections. Others do not want to be told what to do. According to Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, the notion that mandates infringe on individual rights has overtaken the larger public health and safety concerns.
COVID-19 is the leading cause of job-related deaths among U.S. police professionals, with more than 500 law enforcement officers dying after contracting the coronavirus.
In some places, like Chicago, police officers who do not comply with the vaccination deadline will not be barred from work but will have to undergo weekly testing until they get the shots. In other places, like Los Angeles, police officers who do not comply with the vaccination deadline will be placed on unpaid leave.
Some people argue that cops are betraying their oath to protect and serve the public by refusing to get vaccinated. Others argue that it is a personal choice and that being a police officer does not come with increased responsibility to the public.
