Victoria Police refuse to rehire unjabbed police officers, despite mass shortage

 Outrage as police officer who was fired for refusing to get a Covid jab is not allowed back on the force – despite Victoria Police struggling to fill roles

• Victoria Police currently struggling to fill 800 vacancies
•  Ex-cops sacked for refusing Covid vaccine want to rejoin
• READ MORE: Radio star wife of footy great Corey Parker launches into anti-vax spray as she accuses government of breaching Aussies’ human rights

By PADRAIG COLLINS FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

A Victoria Police officer who was fired for refusing to get a Covid vaccination has been permanently banned from rejoining the force, despite being 800 police short.

Tristan Penfold would love to rejoin the police, but has been told there is no way back in Victoria or any other state.

Mr Penfold joined the police in 2019, but was suspended in late 2021 for refusing to get vaccinated, and was dismissed from the force in January 2022.

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

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday morning, Mr Penfold said he and several other anti-vax former cops ‘would love to return and fill a much-needed hole’.

Sacked cop fights to return to Victoria Police after refusing jab