San Francisco police officer ‘separated’ for refusing COVID vaccine champions free selection: ‘I do know who I’m’

When COVID-19 vaccines grew to become extensively accessible within the spring of 2021, some companies introduced that if workers needed to maintain their jobs, they’d should get the jab.

Most individuals complied — however many didn’t.

The Mayo Clinic, New York Metropolis, United Airways and lots of well being care services nationwide have been among the many organizations that terminated workers who remained unvaccinated. Some regulation enforcement companies additionally fired staffers who refused the vaccine — together with the San Francisco Police Division (SFPD). 

Joel Aylworth was among the many SFPD officers who needed to flip of their badges once they did not adjust to the vaccine mandate.

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“As a Christian, I do not imagine in injecting organic substances into my blood,” Aylworth instructed Fox Information Digital in a telephone interview. 

Aylworth mentioned he additionally believed that as a wholesome man in his 30s, he was not in danger for the opposed results of COVID. 

“I targeted on the information, which mentioned this virus wasn’t actually killing folks,” he mentioned. “Individuals in my age group have a 99.9% survival price with none vaccine.”

Joel Aylworth, at left as a police officer in San Francisco, and on proper as a private coach at this time, instructed Fox Information Digital concerning the decisions he made, “I am proud that I aligned with my fact.” (Patrick C. Woods/Monique Ivette Images)

As data continues to emerge at this time about COVID’s lab origins, Aylworth mentioned he stands by his resolution. 

“I’m proud that I aligned with my fact that day and shifting ahead,” he mentioned.

Police work in his blood

Aylworth, 40, was a third-generation police officer who initially needed to affix the FBI. 

He opted to comply with in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps as an alternative. 

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When Aylworth was rising up in Fairfield, California, his father was the sheriff within the county the place they lived. His grandfather labored with the San Francisco Police Division (SFPD) within the Nineteen Fifties via the Seventies.

Aylworth joined the Oakland Police Division in 2006. In 2013, he transferred to the SFPD, the place he labored for greater than eight years. He patrolled primarily within the Mission District and spent two years coaching veteran officers and recruits.

Joel Aylworth’s father and grandfather each labored in regulation enforcement in California. At this time Aylworth (proven right here) lives in Idaho along with his younger household.  (Monique Ivette Images)

Life was good for Aylworth. He lived with his spouse, Gina, and their two younger sons in a home close to his spouse’s household in San Francisco. 

He had a job he beloved. 

He simply by no means anticipated that his 14-year profession in regulation enforcement would finish due to a vaccine mandate.

Deemed a ‘direct risk to the general public’

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Aylworth was working full-time coaching officers on the San Francisco Police Academy. 

“Instantly, they shut down the Academy, after which as a result of there have been no recruits or anybody to coach, the division realized that they had all this additional personnel doing nothing,” he mentioned.

For just a few weeks, Aylworth and another officers, he mentioned, have been tasked with going downtown to the Tenderloin District and conserving homeless folks from congregating — “as a result of COVID supposedly unfold very simply,” he mentioned.

After the San Francisco Police Division introduced it might require the COVID vaccine until officers had legitimate spiritual or medical exemptions on file, Joel Aylworth (proven right here in his uniform) filed for a non secular exemption on Aug. 19, 2021, he instructed Fox Information Digital. It was in the end denied.  (Patrick C. Woods)

Face masks have been required for all officers, however the division solely mandated checks for individuals who obtained COVID or who have been in shut contact with somebody who did.

When COVID vaccines grew to become accessible, the SFPD introduced it might require the vax until officers had a legitimate spiritual or medical exemption on file. 

On Aug. 19, 2021, Aylworth filed for a non secular exemption, he mentioned.

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“Additionally, we knew as early as March 2021 that this vaccine didn’t shield towards transmission,” he added. 

He additionally mentioned he was not comfy with the quantity of analysis or the validity of the analysis into the consequences and dangers of the vaccine.

Aylworth tried to get a non secular exemption for his employer’s vaccine requirement. “As a Christian, I do not imagine in injecting organic substances into my blood,” he instructed Fox Information Digital.  (iStock)

Aylworth’s exemption was accredited by the SFPD’s human assets division, he mentioned. 

Lower than a month later, on Sept. 16, he acquired an e-mail informing him that his unique exemption was not legitimate. 

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“The division mentioned it had some ‘secondary questions’ for me and the opposite 150 already accredited exemptions — together with one other 150 who had utilized for exemptions and have been ready to be accredited,” Aylworth instructed Fox Information Digital.

After answering the second spherical of questions, Aylworth mentioned he acquired one other letter noting that his spiritual exemption was not legitimate based mostly on his newest responses.

In a letter, the division instructed Aylworth that as a result of he wasn’t vaccinated, he was “unable to carry out important job features.”

“All 150 of us who have been beforehand accredited didn’t get accredited this time round,” he mentioned. “Everybody within the division obtained denied.”

When it was introduced that each one officers must get the vaccine or be fired, lots of these whose exemptions have been denied started to resign.

“Our group dwindled from 300 to about 40 who really have been keen to get terminated,” mentioned Aylworth. 

“Examine that to someplace like Los Angeles, which has a division of 10,000 cops and acquired 2,000 requested spiritual exemptions,” he mentioned. “Town threatened to fireside them, too, however did nothing as a result of they knew they couldn’t afford to lose 20% of their drive, in order that they required weekly testing as an alternative. SFPD didn’t provide testing or masking choices like many neighboring cities and counties.”

Aylworth joined the Oakland Police Division in 2006, then in 2013 transferred to the San Francisco Police Division — the place he labored for greater than eight years. (iStock)

Upon his refusal to get the vaccine, Aylworth mentioned he was positioned on a 30-day administrative go away. 

He shared with Fox Information Digital the verbiage of the letter he acquired on this: “The well being and well-being of Metropolis workers and the general public we serve are high priorities throughout our emergency response to COVID-19. Your failure to adjust to the vaccination requirement endangers the well being and security of the Metropolis’s workforce and the general public we serve. The Metropolis repeatedly notified you of this requirement. On account of your non-vaccination standing, you might be unable to carry out important job features.”

After receiving one month of paid go away, Aylworth mentioned he was then positioned on administrative go away with out pay.

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“The explanation they justified not paying me throughout this time,” he mentioned, “is that they have been in a position to drum up an outdated Metropolis Constitution code that mentioned if an worker is a direct risk to the general public, which apparently I used to be deemed, they’d not pay me whereas being positioned on admin go away.”

Fox Information Digital reached out to the San Francisco Police Division. 

The division declined to supply remark about Officer Aylworth, “as it’s a personnel matter,” a spokesperson mentioned.

The division did verify, nonetheless, that “Officer Aylworth separated from SFPD on March 10, 2022.”

When COVID vaccines grew to become accessible, the SFPD introduced the vaccines could be required until law enforcement officials had a legitimate spiritual or medical exemption on file.  (iStock)

Aylworth shared with Fox Information Digital an excerpt from the SFPD’s letter to him. 

“San Francisco Constitution §§ A8.341 and A8.344 state that the Division’s sworn members will be positioned on unpaid interim suspension for ‘acts which current a direct hazard to the general public well being and security …’ I’ve concluded that your conduct on this matter falls into this class. I subsequently intend to put you on interim suspension upon revocation of your paid go away. You’ll obtain a separate discover of the efficient date of the interim suspension. After that date, you shall not be on ‘paid’ administrative go away however shall be carried in an ‘unpaid’ capability whereas awaiting a ultimate resolution relating to your separation listening to earlier than the Police Fee.”

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On March 15, 2022, the SFPD disarmed Aylworth and took away his star and ID card, he mentioned. 

He was issued a stay-away order from the division.

Then, on March 28, 2022, he was formally fired, he mentioned.

“The ironic half is, after the onset of COVID, I labored till October 2021 — round one and a half years — with none vaccine, and I used to be deemed important,” Aylworth mentioned. 

“Then in October, I used to be all of a sudden deemed a ‘direct risk to the general public’ — although again in March 2021, we knew the vaccine supplied no safety of transmission, however supposedly simply lessened signs,” he mentioned.

Combating for his rights

At a listening to held in October 2021, the SFPD was resulting from current proof of the declare that Aylworth was a “direct risk” to the general public, he mentioned — however they didn’t try this, he mentioned.

After what occurred to him in San Francisco, Aylworth (pictured) — alongside along with his spouse and their two sons (now 9 and 5) — moved to Nampa, Idaho.  (Monique Ivette Images)

“I’ve by no means been evaluated by a physician to see if I’m carrying some infectious illness. I’ve by no means been examined for pure immunity and even requested,” Aylworth additionally instructed Fox Information Digital. 

“The one proof they offered at a so-called listening to was the emails they despatched advising me to get the vaccine,” he mentioned. 

“They checked my vaccine standing in a portal they created for the town, and it mentioned I used to be nonetheless unvaccinated. So, in line with their requirements, I used to be a risk and was fired.”

At this time, Aylworth and about 140 different workers are pursuing authorized motion towards the town. He shared documentation to that impact with Fox Information Digital.

Aylworth instructed Fox Information Digital that he left behind a profession that he beloved — and a $200,000 annual wage as properly. At this time, he lives and works in Idaho. (Patrick C. Woods)

“We’re taking authorized motion for a number of elements, however the primary one to focus on is the violation of our Title VII violations, which clearly state how spiritual exemptions must be dealt with,” he mentioned. 

‘At peace with my resolution’

After what occurred to him in San Francisco, Aylworth, his spouse and their two sons (now 9 and 5) moved to Nampa, Idaho, he instructed Fox Information Digital.  

He left behind a profession that he beloved and a $200,000 annual wage. 

To remain afloat, he mentioned he liquidated his retirement accounts. He additionally incurred some hefty bank card debt, he mentioned.

“It requires braveness to rise above and defend your rights, management your feelings, and preserve a contented mind-set.”

Even so, Aylworth doesn’t remorse refusing to get the COVID vaccine. 

He admits that the state of affairs was scary, particularly since his spouse home-schools their kids and he’s the household’s sole revenue earner. But in the end he feels at peace along with his resolution, he mentioned.

“It requires braveness to rise above and defend your rights, management your feelings and preserve a contented mind-set,” Aylworth mentioned. 

“Most individuals comply with the trail of least resistance. They don’t need something to intrude with their ease and luxury. However I imagine it’s the occasions if you endure that you just really develop.”

At this time, Aylworth (pictured) works as a life coach and holistic well being coach in Idaho, the place he moved along with his spouse and youngsters. “I do know I’m being guided for greater and higher issues,” he mentioned.  (Monique Ivette Images)

“Regardless of all of the monetary stress and turmoil, I do know I’m being guided for greater and higher issues.”

At this time, Aylworth is a life coach and holistic well being coach, one thing he mentioned he’d needed to pursue ever since his mom was recognized with most cancers. 

He initially launched it as a facet enterprise again in 2014, however now he has the chance to dedicate himself to teaching full-time.

‘Every part occurs for a motive’

In October 2022, the New York State Supreme Courtroom referred to as for all public metropolis employers to rehire anybody the town had terminated because of vaccine mandates. Massachusetts additionally supplied to carry again some fired state workers. And lots of large corporations, together with Starbucks, Adidas and Intel, have dropped worker vaccination necessities.

“Perhaps this was an indication from the universe that it was time for me to exit and do one thing completely different and have much more constructive affect on the world.”

Would Aylworth ever contemplate returning to police work if the SPFD supplied to rehire him?

“I do not know proper now,” he answered. “I am going to make that call when the time comes. I do imagine that all the pieces occurs for a motive. I imagine that life occurs for you, to not you. Perhaps this was an indication from the universe that it was time for me to exit and do one thing completely different and have much more affect on the world in a extra constructive approach than police work might have ever afforded me.”

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Maybe most significantly, Aylworth mentioned he’s pleased with the instance he has set for his youngsters. 

Whereas they might not but totally perceive all the pieces that occurred, he mentioned he takes consolation in the truth that he stood up for his beliefs.

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“As a result of I do know who I’m and what I stand for, it makes it a lot simpler for me to indicate up as an important father and function mannequin,” he mentioned. 

“This expertise has taught them to not comply with the gang,” he added — “and to at all times suppose for themselves.”