More than 2,600 of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) employees, which include both officers and support staff, are seeking exemptions from the mandate requiring city workers to get vaccinated against COVID. An additional 360 workers plan to seek medical exemptions.
The Los Angeles Times reports, that this figure translates into roughly a quarter of the department’s more than 12,000 employees. Per the paper, among all of the city employees, fewer than 11% have indicated that they will seek an exemption from vaccination. However, the LAPD staff, accounting for 22 percent of city employees, make up more than a half of those planning to seek an exemption on the basis of religious beliefs.
According to a local NBC News affiliate, the LAPD reported its latest vaccination data from Sept. 3 that showed 47% of employees had been fully vaccinated but indicated last week that it expected that number to increase. In comparison, about 67% for all adults in Los Angeles County are now fully vaccinated.
Reportedly, the “lagging” rate of COVID vaccinations among the policemen has been raising concerns among some community and law enforcement leaders that the unvaxxed cops “could be a threat to public safety.” That is, again, in Los Angeles, which, just like other major cities run by the Democrats, has a pressing issue with a violent crime rate.
NBC News states Democratic Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office has not publicly shared data on city employees who have attested to their vaccination status. The number of employees who have filed requests for medical or religious exemptions have also been declined to be disclosed or discussed. The mayor’s office spokesperson, however, said the city will be releasing a “more complete data set shortly after the extended deadline passed.”
The Times, however, reports, citing the LA personnel department, that to date, a whopping 40% of city employees have not provided any information about their vaccination status, and less than 10 percent reported they have not received a COVID shot. Garcetti urged all those workers who have not disclosed whether or not they received a shot to “do it now” since “the deadline has passed.” The mayor warned that even though the city policy “allows” for religious and medical exemptions, he will not “tolerate” the provisions to be “abused by those who simply don’t want to get vaccinated,” per the outlet.
On August 18, the Los Angeles City Council voted to require COVID vaccinations for all city employees except for those who have medical or religious exemptions.
The city ordinance, which states that “the City’s goal is to have a vaccinated workforce,” requires non-exempt employees to receive their first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer two-dose vaccine no later than Sept. 7, and their second dose no later than Oct. 5. Employees who wish to get the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine would have to be jabbed by Oct. 5. The requests for the exceptions, per the order, must have been submitted by Sept. 7. The deadlines, reportedly, had later been extended for a week.
All employees that have been approved for an exemption must still report their vaccination status, per the policy. It is also provided that there are no other opt-out options or weekly testing as an alternative for vaccination for those who did not receive an approved medical or religious exemption. Those with exemptions are said to be subject to weekly testing.
The ordinance limits promotions and transfers of the employees who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or have not reported their vaccination status, until they present a proof that they are fully vaccinated. Given the definition of “fully vaccinated” could soon be changed from two shots of Pfizer or Moderna to three shots, and possibly more. Ultimately, the employees could be required to take as many COVID jabs as the city tells them to.
“You are either going to be vaccinated, if you don’t have an exemption, or you are not going to be able to be employed by the city,” unequivocally said Councilmember Paul Krekorian when announcing the ordinance.
Last Saturday, a group of LAPD employees filed a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn the city-wide order that they argue “further seeks to embarrass, humiliate, shame and deprive the liberty of persons who decline to state their vaccination status.” The plaintiffs state that the city policy is outright coercive and violates their constitutional rights to privacy and due process and asks the court to provide immediate and permanent relief from the requirement.
Meanwhile, major police departments across the nation, similarly, oppose a forceful COVID vaccination. At the end of August, Chicago’s largest police union, the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), along with the city’s other police unions, came out strongly against the COVID vaccine mandate for law enforcement as mayor Lori Lightfoot announced all city employees must get their shots.
The New York Police Department’s largest union vowed to sue mayor Bill de Blasio if he imposes a vaccine mandate on their members.
The union representing Denver police officers indicated that it was trusting officers to make their “own choices on how to maintain their health” and that they would not abide with the vaccination mandate after Mayor Michael Hancock announced a public health order requiring all city employees to get vaccinated against COVID.
