5 West Chester Police Officers Ask For Covid-19 Vaccine Exemption

WEST CHESTER —Five West Chester police officers asked the borough for an exemption from getting vaccinated for COVID-19 and are awaiting disposition, police said today.

The borough on Oct. 20, 2021 issued an order for all borough police officers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Today was the deadline set on April 4 by an arbitration panel for all officers to get vaccinated unless they filed a request for an exemption.

The panel was appointed after the Brotherhood of West Chester Police, a union representing the police, and the borough council were unable to come up with an agreement on vaccine policy. The union has 40 members.

In a related matter, the borough’s Civil Service Commission heard the appeal today of Lt. Chris Daly’s employment status in a hearing that was closed to the public.

Chris Daly, who is not a union member, was suspended in February for not getting vaccinated.

In March, the borough council accepted Daly's voluntary resignation.

Daly, an 18-year-veteran, appealed his employment status to the civil service commission, a three-member panel appointed by council.

The members are Tony Polito, Reese David and Troy Chapman.

Sgt. Andrew McFarland, president of the brotherhood, said the majority of police officers were vaccinated immediately after the vaccination was available.