More than 100 Los Angeles firefighters have been suspended without pay because of the city’s vaccine mandate, and authorities said one fireman’s reaction hit below the belt.
Los Angeles’s policy forces all city employees to get vaccinated by Dec. 18 or submit negative COVID-19 tests twice a week at their own expense. As of Monday, 113 firefighters had not submitted their vaccination status or applied for an exemption, and were removed from duty, according to ABC-7.
If they continue to refuse to comply, they will be “entered into the process for termination of their employment,” said LA Fire Department spokesman Cheryl Getuiza.
The department, meanwhile, is investigating an incident in which a firefighter “responded inappropriately” after being handed a letter to comply with the city’s vaccine mandate, reported KTLA 5.
After receiving a non-compliance notice, the firefighter allegedly dropped his pants and wiped his buttocks with the letter, leaving fecal matter on the document, according the news reports. He then dropped the letter on the ground.
President Joe Biden came out in support of firing first responders if they refuse to get vaccinated against COVID-19, arguing such strict policies are necessary.
During an interview with CNN in October, Biden was asked, “Should police officers, first responders be mandated to get vaccines? And if not, should they be mandated to stay at home, let go?”
“Yes and yes,” Biden replied.
Biden also rolled out his own federal vaccine mandate, which forces all government contractors and federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and all private employers with more than 100 employees to require either vaccination or weekly testing.
However, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed Biden’s vaccine mandate last month, citing “grave” constitutional issues with the order.
“Because the petitions give cause to believe there are grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate, the Mandate is hereby stayed pending further action by the court,” the ruling reads.
The mandate, which could affect an estimated 100 million American workers, includes a Jan. 4 deadline for vaccination.
The policy also imposes nearly $14,000 in fines per employee if businesses are caught letting their workers skirt the mandate. “Willful violations” could result in fines up to $136,000.
Several other lawsuits filed against the Biden administration over the mandate are still pending.
