OACP Statement on Policies Related to Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination for Police Personnel

Earlier this year, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) advocated with the Government of Ontario for priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations for Ontario’s police personnel. As Ontario’s police leaders, OACP members believe that the health and safety of all our personnel must be the overriding priority when it comes to questions related to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. To that end, we continue to strongly encourage all personnel to be vaccinated unless they have a valid medical reason to not be fully vaccinated.

On August 19, following inquiries from many police services, the OACP requested direction from the Ministry of the Solicitor General regarding requiring mandatory vaccinations for police personnel. Absent provincial direction, each police organization will need to determine its own policies and procedures.

The OACP Board of Directors requested that members of our Human Resources Committee (aided by a representative of our Police Legal Advisors Committee) provide information to support police service efforts to determine and develop their policies as deemed appropriate to meet the health and safety needs of each individual police organization. Our Human Resources Committee has and continues to assist police services by sharing information on the human resources and legal considerations that each service should consider in their policies.

We support and thank police services for their efforts in keeping their personnel safe during these difficult times, including those services that have already developed policies and shared them with the OACP and other police services.