These agencies are now vaccinating cops against COVID-19
Here’s the latest roundup of police agencies now offering the vaccine
By Suzie Ziegler
With the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines underway, many hope the end of the pandemic is in sight.
Healthcare workers are predominantly first in line, but police and other first responders are right on their heels. Here’s a roundup of agencies already offering the vaccine to all or some of their staff.
Austin Police Department (Texas)
Dozens of Austin police officers and firefighters go their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 28.
On Monday, dozens of @Austin_Police officers, firefighters and medics got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But the president of the @ATXPOA says officers also need more PPE https://t.co/eDmp1Voq4H
— KVUE News (@KVUE) December 29, 2020
Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety (Mich.)
About 25% of the department received the vaccine Dec. 23.
First round of COVID-19 vaccine administered to Jackson-area police officers https://t.co/T4MYkTUkl3
— MLive (@MLive) December 23, 2020
Central Arizona College Police (Coolidge, Ariz.)
Today, Sgt. Garry Arnold was first member of CACPD to receive the COVID vaccine 💉 pic.twitter.com/RBAEioL8JO
— Central Arizona College Police (@arizona_police) December 29, 2020
Clarksville Police Department (Tenn.)
Police and fire chiefs in Clarskville, Tennessee received the vaccine Dec. 30.
Police and Fire Chiefs Receive Vaccine Chief Crockarell received the COVID vaccine today! He even found time to do a...
Posted by Clarksville Police Department on Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Colorado Springs Police Department (Colo.)
The city's police chief, fire chief and the El Paso County undersheriff received the vaccine Dec. 30.
Thank you to @uchealth for getting our area first responders in for the COVID-19 vaccine. Fire Chief Collas along with @CSPDPIO Chief Niski, @EPCSheriff Undersheriff Carey and @leonkellymd leading the way #CrushCOVID pic.twitter.com/n3WRRpHqdT
— CSFD PIO (@CSFDPIO) December 30, 2020
Dallas Police Department
Dallas Police’s Chief Medical Officer, Lt. Alex Eastman, took the vaccine Dec. 23.
DPD’s own Chief Medical Officer, Lieutenant Alex Eastman, is rolling up his sleeve to receive the vaccine against COVID-19. We encourage all first responders and others to take this vaccine to help stop the spread. #StopTheSpread @PMHTrauma_ALE pic.twitter.com/cxX9FuBf7E
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) December 23, 2020
Denison Police Department (Texas)
”Ultimately as public servants, we don’t have the luxury of not being around folks. So it makes me feel a little bit safer in reference to not exposing someone else to COVID,” said Chief Gudgel.
Local police chief shares why he chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine. https://t.co/n0YtwqsO8w
— KXII News 12 (@KXIITV) January 2, 2021
Honolulu Police Department
Honolulu’s Chief of Police took the vaccine Dec. 23.
Honolulu police chief, first responders roll up their sleeves for COVID vaccine https://t.co/Jp2WTEQWBC
— Raymond E. Foster (@policeofficer) December 23, 2020
Harris County Sheriff’s Office (Texas)
Medical personnel and front-line workers at the Harris County jail began receiving their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine this week.
Our medical personnel and front-line workers in the county jail started receiving their first dose of the coronavirus...
Posted by Harris County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Knoxville Police Department (Tenn.)
Police Chief Eve Thomas took the vaccine Jan. 4.
"Thank you to the Knox County Health Department for their tireless work throughout the pandemic and effort to distribute the vaccine to local first responders," the agency wrote.
Chief Eve Thomas received the COVID-19 vaccine this morning. Thank you to the Knox County Health Department for their tireless work throughout the pandemic and effort to distribute the vaccine to local first responders. pic.twitter.com/8PcaYeSEaK
— Knoxville Police TN (@Knoxville_PD) January 4, 2021
Madison Police Department (Ala.)
Chief Jernigan this morning taking the Moderna vaccine at the Madison County Health Department. Most all of MPD who requested the shot will receive it today. Thank you Nurse Terrye for the work you do as a frontline health care worker in keeping us healthy & safe. pic.twitter.com/6hMwOHuVb9
— Madison Police Dept (@madisonpoliceAL) December 30, 2020
Memphis Police Department (Tenn.)
Memphis police officers, command staff and other local first responders were given the COVID-19 vaccine Monday.
Members of the Memphis Police Department's Command Staff, MPA Officers, and other local first responders took the Covid-19 vaccine today. pic.twitter.com/E3lF0bEl9y
— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) December 28, 2020
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (Tenn.)
Nashville’s Chief of Police took the vaccine Monday. “Didn’t feel it at all,” Chief Drake said.
MNPD officers have the opportunity to receive COVID vaccinations beginning this morning. Chief Drake just received his. pic.twitter.com/MZpTdmSjxj
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) December 28, 2020
Mt. Juliet Police Department (Tenn.)
Police in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee could start getting the vaccine Dec. 23, the agency said.
Today is the day that our first responders & police officers begin to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you to the @TNDeptofHealth & staff at the Wilson County Health Department for securing this opportunity. pic.twitter.com/WSKluDlQb8
— Mt. Juliet Police (@MtJulietPolice) December 23, 2020
New Britain Police Department (Conn.)
Police officers in New Britain, Connecticut, began getting the vaccine Jan. 3.
"This is a great way to start off 2021. Thank you to the Hospital of Central Connecticut for providing the vaccine," the agency wrote.
Pueblo Police Department (Colo.)
Pueblo Police Chief Troy Davenport receives the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and makes comments.https://t.co/anfqwyUX7i
— Pueblo Police Dept (@PuebloPolice1) January 6, 2021
Prattville Police Department (Ala.)
Prattville police receive the #COVID19 vaccine. #ALNewsNetwork pic.twitter.com/Q4qtJZhqjt
— Alabama News Network (@ALNewsNetwork) December 29, 2020
University of Colorado Police Department (Aurora, Colo.)
Sgt. Kevin Lyster took the vaccine last week, nine months after his son died of COVID-19 in April. "Today is for Cody. I do this for my son,” Lyster told 9News.
Cody Lyster died from COVID-19 last April.
— Marc Sallinger (@MarcSallinger) December 23, 2020
Nine months later Sgt. Kevin Lyster, Cody's father and a police officer at Anschutz medical campus, got vaccinated at the hospital Cody was supposed to get treatment at before he died.
"Today is for Cody. I do this for my son" #9News pic.twitter.com/osytMLaqiU
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police Department (Champaign County, Ill.)
Officers and the agency’s police chief took the vaccine Dec. 23.
Chief Cary received her COVID-19 vaccine today, as will a number of UIPD officers. It protects both the officers and the community members who interact with officers.
— U of I Police (@UIPD) December 23, 2020
She said the process was easy and encourages others to receive the vaccination when they have the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/djW2HihGrU
Wenatchee Police Department (Wash.)
Several officers came in to get their vaccine after Confluence Health reached out on Tuesday.
— Wenatchee World (@Wenatcheeworld) December 31, 2020
via @lukeholli https://t.co/a5g6SnsjAY
Vaccines aren’t available to all law enforcement agencies yet as healthcare workers are predominantly first in line. In the meantime, some agencies are helping deliver vaccines to others who need them.
#ChandlerPD is glad to assist with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the East Valley. Thank you to @dignityhealthaz @chandlerfiredept @maricopacounty and many others for the joint partnerships pic.twitter.com/X53Go3MJ0u
— Chandler Police (@ChandlerPolice) December 21, 2020
Hendersonville police officer helps deliver COVID-19 vaccine to area hospital #SC https://t.co/0ifSL5FgS3
— Raymond E. Foster (@policeofficer) December 17, 2020
Western Kentucky University Police Department (Bowling Green, Ky.)
Today some members of the WKU Police Department received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you to all of our medical staff out there on the front lines for providing this opportunity, and for all that you continue to do!#FirstResponders
— WKU Police (@wkupd) December 27, 2020
West Fargo Police Department (N.D.)
“I got the vaccine because it’s the right thing to do for my department, my family and this community to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. I encourage everyone to get the vaccine when they can because it’s a simple and easy way to get us back to normal,” -Chief Otterness. pic.twitter.com/PzY1NAIc67
— West Fargo Police (@WestFargoPolice) December 31, 2020
West Valley City Police Department (Utah)
FIGHTING CRIME AND COVID: Lt. Merritt became the first WVCPD officer to receive the #COVID19 #vaccine this morning, with Chief Jacobs and more officers following suit. We are grateful for this additional protection so that we can continue to serve and protect in our community! 💪 pic.twitter.com/yhSvgJhioY
— WVC Police (@WVCPD) January 6, 2021