Philly Can't Place Police On Leave Over Vaccine Status: Officials

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Police officers who are not vaccinated for the coronavirus will not be placed on leave, according to an arbitration panel working with the city and Fraternal Order of the Police.

Officials Monday announced the panel governing the implementation of the city’s workforce vaccine mandate for employees represented by the Fraternal Order of Police issued an award that delays placing employees on leave until further notice.

This stay also extends to all represented city employees due to the contracts negotiated with other labor unions.

This stay was issued in light of the significant progress represented in the current figures provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, and because parties are still in the process of compiling data regarding vaccinated and unvaccinated officers, officials said.

According to officials, 95 percent of the Philadelphia Police Department are fully vaccinated or have submitted a request for a medical or religious exemption.

Additionally, more than 22,000 — or 92 percent — of all represented city employees have either provided proof of their vaccination status or have an approved or pending exemption request, officials said.

This latest decision is the second issued by the arbitration panel.

On Feb. 1, the panel issued an award addressing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations for members of the FOP Lodge 5 bargaining unit.

That Award required the parties to provide the panel with an updated accounting of vaccinated and unvaccinated officers by Feb. 18, after which the panel would reconvene to determine consequences to be effective Tuesday for non-compliant officers.

On Friday, the panel reviewed the latest accounting and deliberate regarding potential consequences for non-compliance.

While the stay is in place, all other requirements regarding masking and testing remain in place as the city continues to work with departments to get non-compliant employees to either get vaccinated or submit a formal request for exemption to the city’s Employees Relations Unit.

Officials expect the panel to meet again in the coming days to determine final consequences for any employee that remains non-compliant, which will be announced after that decision is made by the panel.