State Patrol reports 10 troopers in Northwest district fail to meet COVID vaccine mandate
The Washington State Patrol announced Tuesday, Oct. 19, that 10 commissioned employees in the district that includes Whatcom County had separated from employment with the department after failing to prove that they had been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Monday, Oct. 19, was the final day that state employees could prove they had been vaccinated or granted an exemption from receiving a vaccine against COVID.
The State Patrol announced Monday that 172 people statewide had been separated from employment after the mandate deadline had passed. Those leaving included 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.”
On Tuesday, the State Patrol announced in a release that 10 of the 74 commissioned employees (troopers, sergeants or captains) who separated from the department were from District 7, which encompasses Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Island counties.
District 5, which is in the southwest corner of the state, had the highest number with 14 commissioned employees separated, while District 1, which covers Pierce and Thurston counties, had 11, according to the release. District 3 in southeast Washington had the fewest with five.
“Agency and division leadership have been working with the Contingency Planning Team since the days immediately after the mandate’s announcement,” Tuesday’s release read. “As the agency moved through the next several weeks, leaders will gauge the immediate actual impact for short-term mitigation. In that time, the agency will move resources where necessary and specific personnel losses demand adjustment.”
Though it didn’t list the number of commissioned employees, the 2020 District 7 Annual Report stated that the district has more than 200 employees assigned to law enforcement, traffic investigations, narcotics investigations, homeland security, vehicle inspections, crime laboratory services, communications, electronic services and other support services.
Statewide, the 2020 Washington State Patrol Annual Report said there were 1,067 commissioned employees and 1,144 civil service employees.
About two weeks ago, WSP said 93% 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% 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.
