The president of the Los Angeles Police Department’s civilian oversight panel has slammed police officers who are trying to get out of being vaccinated against COVID-19.
William Briggs, who was appointed as president in July, said it is "extremely dubious" that more than 2,000 officers are seeking exemptions from the city's vaccination mandate based on genuinely held religious beliefs.
“I’m talking about those individuals who openly disregard the solemn promise they made to protect the citizens of Los Angeles by refusing to be vaccinated. The fact that someone who swore to protect the citizens of the city would instead act to cause harm to citizens is intolerable,” said Briggs.
In total, 3,019 LAPD staff said they intend to request exemptions, according to a September report from the city. More than 2,600 of those respondents said they would file for religious exemptions, and 350 staff members had plans to file medical exemptions. However, at the time the report was released, only 60 percent of the city’s employees had responded with their vaccination status. The numbers of unvaccinated LAPD, as well as other city workers, could be much higher.
LAPD requests for exemptions came in response to the City Council’s August vote to require all city employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, except in the case of sincerely held religious beliefs or medical reasons. Exemption requests from the mandate will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Briggs said he was making his comments after receiving letters from the public expressing concern that officers aren't vaccinated.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore told KNX that the public should be patient with officers who have not yet gotten vaccinated. However, he also said that he was vaccinated and supports the mandate.
“Myself and over half the organization has taken advantage of [the COVID-19 vaccine]. It keeps us safe, it keeps our families safe and it protects the public that we serve,” said Moore.
According to the L.A. Times, the LAPD and the L.A. County Fire Department are hotbeds for COVID-19 outbreaks across the county.
The Times reported, “Of 211 identified outbreaks of three or more coronavirus cases at police or fire agencies in L.A. County between March 2020 and last month, 112 were linked to the LAPD and LAFD, according to the data.”
Six LAPD officers are currently suing the city to overturn the vaccine mandate, claiming they have natural antibodies.
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