State Patrol reports 10 troopers in Northwest district fail to meet COVID vaccine mandate

The Washington State Patrol announced Tuesday, Oct. 18, that 10 commissioned employees in the district that includes Whatcom County had separated from employment with the department after failing to prove that they had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Monday, Oct. 19, was the final day that state employees could prove they had been vaccinated or granted an exemption from receiving a vaccine against COVID. The State Patrol announced Monday that 172 people statewide had been separated from employment after the mandate deadline had passed. Those leaving included 67 troopers, six sergeants, one captain and 53 civil servants, according to the announcement.

On Tuesday, the State Patrol announced in a release that 10 of the 74 commissioned employees (troopers, sergeants or captains) who separated from the department were from District 7, which encompasses Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and Island counties.