Mandatory vaccination policy for Windsor police officers will be discussed

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Windsor police officers could soon join the ranks of public servants who need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

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At a meeting of the Windsor Police Services Board on Thursday, Mayor Drew Dilkens said the board asked Chief Pam Mizuno to prepare a report on a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy for all WPS members. .

“We plan to have the meeting (on the policy) sometime in early October,” Dilkens said.

Mizuno is in the process of gathering data for the report, with the goal of presenting a policy to the board for approval.

Potential details of the policy have yet to be revealed.

Last month, the Toronto Police Service announced a mandatory vaccination policy for all its members, whether sworn officers or civilian employees, with proof of vaccination status required as of September 13.

However, the Toronto Police Association has publicly stated that it is against the policy, and the issue continues to be debated by many other police services. OPP, for example, currently does not have a vaccination requirement.

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In August, the Ontario Police Chiefs Association wrote to the Attorney General’s Office requesting instructions on mandatory vaccination policies among police services.

The ministry has yet to give an answer.

The OACP has recorded that it “strongly encourages” all police personnel to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, last week, the Windsor city council approved a mandatory vaccination policy for municipal workers.

The policy requires that City of Windsor employees have proof of complete immunization by November 15, or obtain a valid accommodation under human rights law.

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Employees who choose to remain unvaccinated and do not have a legitimate exemption will be placed on leave without pay.

City policy also applies to contractors and volunteers.

According to the City of Windsor Human Resources Department, a survey of 1,200 municipal workers found that 83 percent are already fully vaccinated.

Regarding human rights accommodations, a city administration report said they will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and may imply that the housed employee is subject to regular COVID-19 testing.

The Human Rights Code does not protect personal, philosophical or political objections.

Representatives from the Windsor Professional Firefighters Association, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Civic Association of Non-Union Employees (CANUE) asked the council to consider a scheduled testing policy in lieu of a vaccination requirement.

The Windsor Police Association has not made a statement on the board’s direction to Mizuno.