The City of Seattle has agreed to pay $875,000 to a former 911 police communications supervisor who was terminated for refusing to comply with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, despite receiving a religious exemption.
Marina Shinderuk, who worked with the Seattle Police Department for 14 years, was dismissed in November 2021 after declining the COVID-19 vaccination on religious grounds. Although her exemption was initially approved, she says the city ultimately failed to provide the accommodations that had been promised.
Shinderuk expressed relief that the legal battle had come to an end. “I’m just glad it’s over,” she said. “It was never about the money—it was about making a point.”
Shinderuk began her SPD career as a tele-communicator and earned a promotion to police communications supervisor in 2019. She said she had hoped her long tenure and willingness to work within the mandate’s safety protocols—such as masking, social distancing, and regular testing—would allow her to stay on the job. However, she was let go just five weeks after her exemption was approved.
“I felt this weight lift when my exemption was granted,” she recalled. “But a few weeks later, I was told I had one day left on the job. It didn’t feel real.”
After proposing several alternatives—including reassignment, remote work, and enhanced safety measures—Shinderuk said her offers were declined and she was deemed out of compliance. Her termination left her without a pension, healthcare, or job security as a single mother of three.
She has since relocated to Southern California, where she now works as an Admissions Coordinator for First Responder Wellness, a mental health treatment facility that serves emergency personnel.
Reflecting on her experience, Shinderuk said, “What happened was wrong, but it led me to where I am now. It showed me that something needs to change in how these policies are enforced.”
Her legal team framed the settlement as a landmark resolution. Her attorney called it “a major win for citizens in Washington,” emphasizing the importance of protecting religious freedoms and the legal requirement to accommodate sincerely held beliefs.
The City of Seattle has not publicly commented on the settlement.
