Police officials in Massachusetts wrongly suspended eight state troopers over a refusal to comply with a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, an arbitrator ruled on Aug. 4.
The troopers sought exemptions from the mandate because of their religious beliefs, but officials rejected the requests, leading to the suspensions.
The Department of the State Police violated the troopers’ rights when their exemption requests were denied, the arbitrator ruled, according to the State Police Association of Massachusetts, a union, and lawyer Leah Marie Barrault.
The arbitrator found that the troopers “hold a sincere religious belief that conflicted with the vaccine and that they should have been afforded the opportunity to have their individual accommodation requests reviewed and not summarily discarded,” Ms. Barrault, who represented the troopers, said in a statement.
The department didn’t return a request by The Epoch Times for comment. In a statement to local media outlets, a spokesperson said, “We are reviewing today’s ruling to determine the administrative and legal steps required for its implementation.”
The union stated that the arbitrator ordered officials to contact the troopers to offer them reinstatement as well as full back pay for the period of suspension.
Seven of the troopers have been suspended since 2021. The eighth has already returned to duty after a period of suspension.
“Earlier today, I had the distinct honor and privilege of informing seven of our Troopers, who have been suspended without pay due to Executive Order 595, that they would be returning to work,” Patrick McNamara, president of the police association, said in a statement.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, issued the order, which required all executive branch workers to prove that they had been vaccinated by October 2021.
Mr. Baker said vaccination was “the most effective tool” for combating COVID-19 and that “widespread vaccination is the only means the Commonwealth has over the long-term to ensure protection from COVID-19 in all its variations and to end the many negative consequences COVID-19 produces in our daily lives.” The order didn’t include citations for the claims.
Workers who didn’t comply with the mandate were told that they would face punishment, including termination. But the order stated that agencies needed to allow exemptions to workers “unable to receive COVID-19 vaccination due to medical disability” and workers “unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccination due to a sincerely held religious belief.”
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat who succeeded Mr. Baker, rescinded the order in May. She said the order “has successfully reduced and mitigated countless infections, hospitalizations, and deaths resulting from COVID-19” but didn’t provide any citations.
The state police separately fired 13 troopers over the mandate. The new decision doesn’t involve them.
“Although today is a day to rejoice and celebrate a win for organized labor, our fight is not finished. Thirteen of our members remain out of work, unfairly terminated by the Baker Administration, and left with the scars of a spiteful and unfounded designation of being dishonorably discharged,” Mr. McNamara said. “To those who doubted our commitment and criticized our fight, today reaffirms what I have said since day one; the State Police Association Massachusetts will always defend our members’ rights.”
