Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva speaks during a ceremony in Monterey Park, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said he will not require his officers to get the coronavirus vaccine. During his weekly public Q&A, he stressed the vaccine against COVID-19 has become immensely politicized, where employees would be more than willing to get fired than be forced to get the shot.
“The issue has become so politicized,” he stated. “There are entire groups of employees that are willing to be fired and laid off rather than get vaccinated.”
The sheriff also commented on the current struggle his department already faces as a result of the defund the police movement.
“I don’t want to be in a position to lose five, 10 percent of my workforce overnight on a vaccine mandate, while the same time we are barebones with the defunding effort,” Villanueva continued. “This is like the worst of two worlds, so we have to pick and choose.”
His remarks came after Los Angeles approved an ordinance on Wednesday requiring proof of COVID vaccination to enter most indoor venues, including bars and nightclubs as well as certain outdoor events. In addition, exceptions to the mandate will be made for only those with medical exemptions as well as a sincerely held religious belief.
BREAKING: Los Angeles Sheriff won't enforce 'politicized' vaccine mandatepic.twitter.com/1IsrVdQFqP
— Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) October 8, 2021
The latest ordinance is set to go into effect November 4 and is being referred to as one of the strictest mandates to pass in the country.
Source: One America News Network
