Some Seattle police officers began flying Gadsden flags out of their patrol cars in opposition to Washington state’s vaccine mandate for state employees.
“Some officers plan on taking time off to decide what they will do long term. They don’t seem eager to stay with SPD. Others explained that they are going to leave the SPD by the end of the year as a result of this. Officers took these photos in protest of the mandate,” KTTH radio show host Jason Rantz wrote on Twitter early Monday morning. His post was accompanied by several pictures of Seattle police cars flying the flags.
Some officers plan on taking time off to decide what they will do long term. They don’t seem eager to stay with SPD.
Others explained that they are going to leave the SPD by the end of the year as a result of this.
Officers took these photos in protest of the mandate. pic.twitter.com/0mkfdklo0F
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) October 18, 2021
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee (D) has mandated that all state employees and healthcare workers be vaccinated against COVID-19. Workers falling under the mandate were expected to submit proof of their vaccination on Monday.
The public display of defiance from Seattle police officers comes after former Washington State Patrol trooper Robert LaMay blistered Inslee on Friday, signing off shift for the last time after being forced out because of the state’s vaccine mandate for government employees.
“This is my final sign-off. After 22 years of serving the citizens of the state of Washington, I’m being asked to leave because I am dirty,” LaMay said in a video posted online, making his final sign off as a Washington state law enforcement officer.
“Numerous fatalities, injuries, have worked sick, have played sick, we’ve [borne] lots of friends over these years. I’d like to thank you guys,” he continued. “I’d like to thank the citizens of Yakima County as well as my fellow officers within the valley. Without you guys, I wouldn’t have been very successful and you’ve kept me safe and gotten me home to my family every night. Thank you for that. I wish I could say more but this is it so state 10-34, this is the last time you will hear me in a state patrol car and Jay Inslee can kiss my a**.”
“Thank you for your 22 years and five months of service to the citizens of Washington state,” a woman answered. “You have been a great role model for all young troopers serving in the area by sharing your knowledge and experience throughout the years. Thank you for your service.”
LaMay’s video received tens of thousands of views on social media as opposition to vaccine mandates continues to spread among first responders, worrying officials in some areas that emergency personnel may be left short-staffed because of the mandate. In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) and the city’s police union are engaged in a legal battle over the city’s vaccine mandate.
On Friday, Lightfoot sued to stop the Chicago police union’s chief, John Catanzara, from encouraging the city’s police officers to buck the mayor’s vaccine mandate.
“As Chicago’s Mayor, I cannot and will not stand idly by while the rhetoric of conspiracy theorists threatens the health and safety of Chicago’s residents and first responders,” Lightfoot said in a statement.
Earlier last week, Catanzara encouraged Chicago police officers to continue resisting the mandate, asserting that the city would eventually cave if enough officers refused go along with the regulation. As The Daily Wire reported:
“I’ve made my status very clear as far as the vaccine, but I do not believe the city has the authority to mandate that to anybody, let alone that information about your medical history,” Catanzara said in the video, later adding, “Hold the line.”
“It’s safe to say that the city of Chicago will have a police force at 50% or less for this weekend coming up,” he noted.
“I can guarantee you that no-pay status will not last more than 30 days,” Catanzara reportedly said. “There’s no way they’re going to be able to sustain a police department workforce at 50% capacity or less for more than seven days without something budging.”
He pressed back against the actions of Mayor Lightfoot, saying, “This could have all been avoided but it literally has been like everything else with this mayor for the last two and a half years: ‘Do it or else. Because I said so.’ Well, we say otherwise.”
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Source: Dailywire
