The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) top priority is, and always has been, officer safety and wellness. Tragically, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been a total of 731 COVID-19 related line-of-duty deaths. This is currently the highest cause of line-of-duty death for the law enforcement profession. 

Over the last 18 months, the general public made significant changes in their daily activities, such as social and physical distancing and remote working, to reduce exposure and sickness. Law enforcement duties did not allow for such tactics because officers must answer every call for service, and every call requires some sort of interaction with the public, thereby increasing the risk of exposure and transmission. 

For these reasons, the IACP urges all law enforcement officers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves, their fellow officers, their families, and their communities. 

The IACP remains steadfast in our mission of officer safety and wellness, and we call on all policing leaders and officers to embrace the necessary safety protocols, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and getting vaccinated, in order to reduce COVID-19 exposures and deaths. 

To find a vaccination site near you, here. Additional information on law enforcement response to COVID-19 can be found on the IACP’s website, here.