Gavin Howe
COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers since the start of the pandemic. In the United States, 476 officers have died from COVID-19, compared to 94 killed by gunfire. Despite this, there has been resistance to the vaccine among law enforcement officers, with police unions supporting their right to refuse. In response, police departments have implemented various strategies to increase vaccine uptake, such as offering cash rewards or requiring new hires to be vaccinated. However, some officers have pushed back against these rules, threatening legal action and claiming discrimination. To address this issue, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released a COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community, providing resources and strategies to promote vaccine confidence within departments and the communities they serve.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Law enforcement officers included in the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination | No |
| Law enforcement officers' COVID-19 vaccine confidence | Low |
| Law enforcement officers' COVID-19 vaccination rate | 59% in Palm Beach County, Florida; 66.5% in Charlotte |
| Law enforcement unions' stance on COVID-19 vaccination | Against |
| Law enforcement officers' ability to refuse COVID-19 vaccination | Yes, if they have valid medical or religious objections |
| Law enforcement agencies' ability to mandate COVID-19 vaccination | Yes, without violating federal statutes |
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What You'll Learn
Law enforcement officers' resistance to the COVID-19 vaccine
COVID-19 has been the number one killer of police officers in the United States since the pandemic began. In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 killed more law enforcement officers than any other cause. Despite this, there has been major resistance to vaccine mandates among law enforcement officers, with police unions pushing back and filing lawsuits to block the mandates.
Some officers have expressed concerns about the safety of the vaccine, with one officer stating that the speed with which the vaccine was developed has made them "skeptical". Others have expressed a general reluctance to put "chemicals" into their body, with younger officers being less likely to get vaccinated or receive the flu shot.
In San Diego, a survey found that 90% of officers opposed a mandate, 65% would consider quitting, and 45% would rather be fired than comply. Hundreds of officers in San Diego said they would consider quitting instead of complying with a vaccination mandate. This has led to fears of officer shortages, which could undermine public safety.
To address this issue, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released the COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community. This free toolkit provides resources and strategies to promote vaccine confidence within law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. It includes guidance on how to launch a vaccine confidence campaign, sample letters and fact sheets, and information on specific concerns related to officers' work.
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COVID-19 as the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers
COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death for law enforcement officers in the United States since the pandemic began. According to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund's midyear report, COVID-19 complications were responsible for the majority of officer fatalities, with 71 officers dying from the virus. NBC News reported that this number had risen to 133 officers as of September 16, 2021. In Florida, COVID-19 has killed at least 14 officers, more than any other cause, including gunfire and vehicular assault.
The high rate of COVID-19-related deaths among law enforcement officers has sparked discussions about vaccine mandates for this group. Police unions in several cities, including Chicago, New York, Seattle, and Tulsa, have rejected calls for vaccine mandates from city officials. However, some individual officers and police leaders support vaccine requirements. For example, the president of the local and statewide police union in Florida has stated that all law enforcement and corrections officers should be vaccinated.
To address vaccine hesitancy among law enforcement officers, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has developed a COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community. This toolkit provides resources and strategies to promote vaccine confidence within law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. The toolkit includes guidance on launching a vaccine confidence campaign, sample letters and fact sheets, and information addressing specific concerns related to the work of law enforcement officers.
While police leaders in the U.S. may require employees to be vaccinated, they must consider religious and medical accommodation requests under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accommodations for employees exempt from vaccination may include increased use of personal protective equipment (PPE), although this may not be possible for all officers, particularly those in line duty.
The COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to provide protection against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. As such, vaccine mandates for law enforcement officers aim to protect the health and safety of this high-risk group, who interact with the public frequently throughout their workday.
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Law enforcement vaccine mandates
COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death for police officers in 2021, with at least 115 law enforcement officers killed by COVID in the United States, accounting for more than half of all police deaths that year. Despite this, there is no federal mandate for law enforcement officers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. However, police leaders in the U.S. may require employees to be vaccinated without violating any federal statutes. This is similar to how departments may mandate tetanus, hepatitis, measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), and/or flu immunizations.
Some states, like Tennessee, have enacted laws restricting the enforcement of vaccine mandates. The Tennessee law prohibits employers from requiring proof of vaccination status, creating a "don't ask, don't tell" incentive for both employers and employees. On the other hand, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has long been a pro-police politician, has not mandated vaccines for law enforcement, despite COVID-19 being the top cause of death for police officers in the state.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released a COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines within their departments and the communities they serve. The toolkit includes resources and strategies that law enforcement agencies can use to communicate the importance of vaccinations to their officers and the public. The toolkit also includes guidance on launching a vaccine confidence campaign and sample fact sheets about COVID-19 and vaccinations from the CDC.
While there is no federal mandate for law enforcement vaccinations, police leaders have the authority to require their employees to be vaccinated. However, employers must consider religious and medical accommodation requests under the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, employees who suffer adverse side effects from mandatory vaccinations may file workers' compensation claims.
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Law enforcement vaccine confidence campaigns
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected law enforcement officers, with more officers dying from the virus than any other cause since the pandemic began. As such, there have been calls for mandatory vaccinations for law enforcement officers. However, this has proven to be a controversial topic, with some officers expressing skepticism about the vaccine.
To address this issue, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has developed the COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community. This toolkit aims to promote confidence in COVID-19 vaccines within law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. It includes resources and strategies that agencies can use to reach hesitant officers and communicate the importance of vaccinations to the public. The toolkit contains guidance on launching a vaccine confidence campaign within a department, including sample letters, fact sheets, and strategies for social media and local media outlets.
The success of such campaigns relies on addressing specific concerns related to the work of law enforcement officers. For example, the BJA toolkit includes a "COVID-19 Fact Sheet for Law Enforcement" that highlights the increased risk of infection for officers due to their frequent interactions with the public. Additionally, campaigns should emphasize the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines, addressing any misconceptions or myths, such as the false claim that mRNA vaccines can alter DNA.
Furthermore, vaccine confidence campaigns should also consider the broader social and political context. For instance, the KFF Tracking Poll found a shift in trust among Democrats and Republicans regarding government health agencies providing vaccine information. Understanding these dynamics can help campaigns tailor their messaging and build trust with their target audience.
Overall, law enforcement vaccine confidence campaigns play a crucial role in encouraging vaccination uptake among hesitant officers and protecting the health and safety of those who serve on the front lines.
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Religious and medical exemptions for law enforcement officers
COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death for first responders in the past two years, with roughly 182 cops dying from the virus, according to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund. Despite this, there has been significant opposition to vaccine mandates from police officers across the United States.
In Los Angeles, over 2,600 LAPD employees, including officers and support staff, are seeking exemptions from the mandate requiring city workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This figure translates to roughly a quarter of the department's more than 12,000 employees. Of these, an additional 360 workers plan to seek medical exemptions, while the rest will seek religious exemptions.
In Chicago, thousands of officers contracted COVID-19, and five died during the height of the pandemic. Despite this, 2,110 Chicago police officers remain unvaccinated against COVID-19. Two-thirds of these unvaccinated officers have been given a medical or religious exemption by the city.
In Maryland, three Maryland-National Capital Park Police officers were allegedly unlawfully terminated after being denied medical and religious exemptions to the agency's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. The union representing these officers, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 30, claimed that the officers' due process rights were violated when they were denied a hearing board under Maryland's Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights.
In Philadelphia, a three-member arbitration panel upheld the city's vaccination mandate for police officers. As a result, all Philadelphia police officers must have at least one dose of the vaccine by a specified date or submit a request for a medical or religious exemption. Officers who do not complete their vaccination series within 14 days of the prescribed schedule are considered out of compliance with the mandate. Those who fail to receive a first vaccine dose and have not requested an exemption by the specified date will be required to double-mask or wear an N95 mask and comply with the city's testing requirements.
While some cities have mandated COVID-19 vaccinations for law enforcement officers, others have left the decision to individual officers. For example, the union representing Denver police officers indicated that it trusted officers to make their "own choices on how to maintain their health" and that they would not abide by the vaccination mandate.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, law enforcement officers can get the COVID vaccine. However, in some places, they were not included in the first phase of the vaccine rollout.
Police leaders in the U.S. may require employees to be vaccinated without violating federal statutes. However, employers must consider religious and medical accommodation requests.
Yes, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released a COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit for the Law Enforcement Community. This includes fact sheets, sample letters, and strategies to promote vaccine confidence within departments and the communities they serve.
Some officers are skeptical about the vaccine due to a lack of data, as they believe it was developed too quickly. Others are concerned about putting chemicals into their bodies.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, COVID-19 has been the leading cause of officer deaths since the start of the pandemic, with 476 deaths from the virus compared to 94 from gunfire.
