For the last year and a half, Seattle police officers have suffered nightmare after nightmare as politicians back up the Black Lives Matter movement and have embraced Antifa in their policies. More than 300 officers have left the force since then and with more to come.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan recently announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the Seattle Police Department. She emphasized how full vaccination against COVID is a “condition” of employment but said that religious and medical exemptions will be offered. It is unclear how many requests the city will accommodate as all staff members must be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18.
There are a little over 200 officers who either haven’t been vaccinated or are refusing to turn over their private medical data. The SPD is being stretched dangerously thin and the city can’t afford to lose any more officers. Some officers have argued that the vaccine is not necessary to do their job since they’ve already been in the field for 18 months without one. Others have argued that they just don’t want to hand over their private medical data and don’t think it’s right for the government to make private medical decisions.
While some unions have continued to bargain with city leaders on the mandate, one, in particular, is negotiating for severance packages for staff members who choose not to get the vaccination. They are already compromising on how to get unvaccinated out the door. It has been devastating for the whole city, particularly officers who just don’t want to get the jab. It’s not the government’s business or decision to make.
Last year’s push to “defund the police” has already caused staff records at lows they have not seen since the 1980s. Sources say that there are only about 70 officers patrolling the city on any given night. There has been a massive surge in violent crime, with rates breaking the 26-year-high homicide numbers back in 2020. There are only about 1,000 deployable officers, with the city being about 300-500 short of where they should be.
A spokesperson for Mayor Durkan warned the county departments and said she is hopeful that terminations will not be necessary and that “all unvaccinated employees choose to get vaccinated.” Mike Solan, the Seattle Police Officer Guild Union president, said he is not very hopeful about negotiating the terms and that the mandate could cause officers to lose their jobs.
“If you are advocating for more police officers because you know crime is on the rise, you need more cops because of what the City Council did. Why are you threatening us with our jobs (if) you don’t get this vaccination. It’s unbelievable to me, it doesn’t make any sense,” Solan said on a podcast in August.
At this point, the humiliation and verbal abuse are enough for any Seattle officer to quit the force. The citizens of Seattle are getting the “social justice” they voted for. Same with New York, California, Chicago, and Portland. All are on the verge of complete collapse and innocent people are tired of paying the Democrats’ price of increased crime. The jab is just another reason to leave the city.
