Las Vegas, NV (AP) - The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department has lifted its requirement that new hires be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he still encourages department personnel to get vaccinated but that he lifted the requirement for new hires about a week ago due to a dip in positive cases at the department.
“I support the vaccines,” the sheriff said. “I think they keep you from a detrimental experience or hospitalization possibly resulting in death, but that is a personal decision.”
The department imposed the vaccination requirement last summer, saying that applicants had to show proof of vaccination before being hired. The requirement didn’t apply to current employees.
Detective Steve Grammas, president of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, told KVVU-TV that the union welcomed the change.
“We did not and do not support any mandates to be vaccinated for current or future officers,” Grammas said, “”From what we have been told, interest in hiring at LVMPD has increased since this mandate was removed.”