Vaccine mandates in police departments across the country have threatened to deepen a staffing crisis that has already resulted in long wait times for 911 calls and reduced services in a number of cities.
Officers have fled the force in droves in the months since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of an officer drew intense scrutiny to law enforcement practices nationwide.
Low morale, public mistrust, and politically driven budget cuts have contributed to the staffing shortages that presently plague many departments, and vaccine mandates in major cities could accelerate the trend of officers leaving urban forces for the friendlier work environments of small towns and suburbs.
In late September, for example, dozens of Massachusetts State Police troopers submitted their resignations after the state proceeded with a vaccine mandate, which is set to take effect on Oct. 17.
Michael Cherven, president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, said some of the officers who resigned plan to take jobs at other police departments that are “offering reasonable alternatives such as mask wearing and regular testing.”
“The State Police are already critically short staffed,” the union president said in a statement about the vaccine mandate. --->READ MORE HERE
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| REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson |
Seattle’s already depleted police department is bracing for another setback.
The city is poised to fire as many as 403 officers, about 40 percent of the 1,000-person force, for failing to take the COVID-19 jab by an Oct. 18 deadline, according to local reports.
“The environment has been pretty toxic and negative,” an unnamed officer told Fox 13 News. “Not just from this whole mandate, but prior to that as well. I’m not sure this would be a good place for me to work long-term for my mental health. It has been very stressful.”
A total of 292 officers had yet to provide proof of COVID vaccination as of Oct. 6, the station reports. In addition, 111 officers are awaiting the results of exemption requests, said Seattle PD spokesperson Sgt. Randy Huserik. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to related stories and resources:
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