PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – As many as 80 Providence police officers face potential termination in less than two weeks as a vaccine mandate deadline looms in the city.
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza enacted the mandate last week, requiring all city employees — excluding those in the school department — to be at least partially vaccinated by Jan. 14 or else face “separation from city employment,” according to the new policy.
Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré told Target 12 that city leaders are encouraging all officers to get vaccinated but said he estimated “70 to 80” have refused to get a shot so far. There are about 450 sworn personnel in the department.
“Hopefully we don’t lose any police officers at the end of the process — that’s my goal and we’re going to work toward that,” Paré said. “But it is a requirement and there are deadlines set in place and I don’t expect them to be moved.”
Paré said they faced the same situation with the fire department following a state mandate in August requiring all health care workers to be vaccinated or lose their licenses. A legal challenge brought by firefighters against the mandate failed in September.
Paré said in October, the city had dozens of firefighters who were unvaccinated. Ultimately most of them got the shot, but the city terminated five firefighters who refused.
Derek Silva, president of the Providence Firefighters Union Local 799, said the individuals who were fired had less than five years on the job and...
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