Watson disapproves of Ottawa police’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, hopeful service reverses course

The Ottawa Police Service's (OPS) decision to require unvaccinated members to submit to COVID-19 testing every 72 hours simply isn't enough for Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson.

In fact, he wants the police service to step up and change its vaccination policy so that all members of the OPS are fully vaccinated against the virus, just like their public sector counterparts.

Watson says that anyone in the public sector who receives a public paycheque needs to be fully immunized against the virus.

He is hopeful the OPS will reverse course and require its members to be vaccinated against the virus.

“For the life of me, I can't understand why they would not follow the same rules that other public servants in Ottawa, and quite frankly across the country, are following,” Watson told reporters on Wednesday, October 27.

The mayor feels the police service must practice what it preaches when it comes to vaccines.

“We're out there, telling people to get double-vaccinated or they risk losing their job here at the City of Ottawa,” Watson stressed. “It's not a frivolous thing we're engaged in, it's a serious matter — and police come into contact, literally, with dozens of people every single day.”

In a tweet, Ottawa Police Services Board (OPSB) Chair Diane Deans explains she agrees that 100 per cent of officers should be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but clarifies the board does not have the authority to make those decisions.

I share the opinion that 100% of officers should be fully vaccinated. The OPSB cannot direct this policy, under the Police Services Act, this responsibility rests with Chief Sloly.

— Diane Deans (@dianedeans) October 27, 2021

She says under the Police Services Act, the responsibility to change the police services' vaccine policy falls onto Police Chief Peter Sloly.