Here’s how many workers are leaving WA State Patrol following vaccine mandate deadline
Monday was the final day for state employees to prove they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 or receive an exemption to avoid losing their jobs. The Washington State Patrol announced Tuesday that 127 people had separated from employment as the mandate deadline passed.
Those leaving include 67 troopers, six sergeants, one captain and 53 civil servants, according to the announcement.
“We will miss every one of them,” WSP Chief John Batiste said in the announcement. “I extend a hardy thanks to those who are leaving the agency. I truly wish that you were staying with us.”
The departures from the State Patrol are spread across the state, WSP said. Over the next few days, leaders plan to gauge the impact of the departures and move resources where necessary. The State Patrol plans to make similar adjustments for departures from its civilian jobs and is looking to fill vacancies “as soon as possible.”
Longer term, the WSP will continue recruiting and plans to fill three classes of police academy cadets in the coming months.
Addressing workers who chose to stay at WSP, Batiste said the State Patrol will do its best to keep staff from becoming overburdened from the departures.
“We have the responsibilities of the agency to carry forward and I am not going to ask you to do more with less,” Batiste said in the release.
About two weeks ago, WSP said 93 percent of its 2,200 employees had been vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Seattle Times.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s office said last week that across Washington, more than 90 percent of state workers had been vaccinated. Inslee announced in August that state employees, health care employees and school workers must be vaccinated or provide proof of medical or religious exemption by Oct. 18.
According to the Associated Press, the mandate is believed to be among the strictest in the nation and covers more than 800,000 workers.
This story was originally published October 19, 2021 at 10:50 AM with the headline "Here’s how many workers are leaving WA State Patrol following vaccine mandate deadline."
