Outrage as a police officer who was fired for refusing to receive a Covid vaccine is not allowed to return to the force – despite Victoria Police struggling to carry out their duties

A Victoria Police officer who was fired for refusing to get a Covid vaccine has been permanently banned from joining the force, despite a shortage of 800 police officers.

Tristan Penfold would love to join the force, but has been told there is no way to return to Victoria or any other state.

Mr Penfold joined the force in 2019, but was suspended at the end of 2021 for refusing to be vaccinated and was dismissed from the force in January 2022.

He had said he was willing to receive a Novavax vaccine – favored by some people who did not want to receive mRNA-based vaccines such as those made by Pfizer and Moderna – but it was not available in Australia at the time. ‘era.

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday morning, Mr Penfold said he and several other former anti-vax cops “would love to come back and fill a much-needed void”.

Victoria Police has 800 vacancies, leading 43 suburban stations to reduce their opening hours.

Mr Penfold said being a police officer “meant everything” to him. “It meant community, creating a better place for my daughter and a better place for everyone.”

But, he said, “Unfortunately the chief commissioner (of Victoria Police) is not interested in re-hiring us. »

Rising crime rates and declining police resources have had no impact on police policy.

“All former police officers… seeking re-employment must undergo a suitability assessment before returning to Victoria Police,” a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

“The application process for all new and returning police officers includes an assessment by a suitability committee.

“The panel considers that any probity issues, including previous disciplinary matters, and members who have resigned under investigation or who have been dismissed are not eligible to reapply.”

Mr Penfold said there was no other disciplinary reason why the police did not want to rehire him.

He said refusing to get vaccinated against Covid was “the only flaw in my career”. This also applies to some of my colleagues.

However, he is not able to say how many are in the same boat as him. “The number varies from 35 to a few hundred, depending on how you stack the numbers…

“I wouldn’t say they all want to come back. The damage is unfortunately done for some. However, there are quite a few, like me, who are ready to come back.

Although the vaccination mandate no longer applies, Mr Penfold said the situation is: “Once finished, you will never be able to reapply or be re-employed by Victoria Police.

“This will trickle down to other states as well,” he said.

In a plea for Victoria Police to change its mind on the issue, Mr Penfold said “There is no reason to continue to have a deficit of members” now that the vaccination mandate has ended.