Commissioner of Police Chris Dawson ‘does not have the power to mandate officers are vaccinated’: Police Union

The WA Police Union has criticised moves by WA’s top cop to mandate that all WA police officers are vaccinated. It comes after Commissioner Chris Dawson said he expected that everyone who works for the force was vaccinated and therefore he would introduce “stringent measures around the way we work”. The measures will mean that WA Police officers who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be forced to wear face masks at all times while on duty. “Soon, I’ll be implementing a policy that any WA Police employee who has not received at least one COVID vaccination will be required to wear a mask at all times while at work,” Mr Dawson said in an internal force video. “Please get vaccinated for your health, the health of your family, friends and colleagues — and for the health of the community we serve.” But in a statement issued on Wednesday the WA Police Union said that it would “not accept any discrimination against our members based on their vaccination status.” “It is our view, supported by legal opinion, the Commissioner of Police does not have the power to mandate officers are vaccinated,” Acting President Mick Kelly said. “It is also our view, supported by legal opinion, the Commissioner of Police cannot demand an officer produces a medical certificate to explain their vaccination status. “We have not yet secured a legal opinion about the Commissioner of Police’s policy directive for unvaccinated officers to wear masks at work. “In the absence of a legal opinion that identifies an officer’s lawful right not to follow the Commissioner of Police’s directive, we advise our members to adhere to the policy unless they have a medical exemption.” WA Police have been contacted for comment.