Civilian Board Head on LAPD Cops Refusing Vaccine: 'I Find it Appalling'

The head of the Los Angeles board of Police Commissioners took aim at the officers who have indicated they do not wish to become vaccinated against COVID-19, slamming their resistance as “appalling.”

William Briggs, who is in charge of the civilian panel the oversees the Los Angeles Police Department, made the comments on Tuesday during a commission meeting. He also said it was “extremely dubious” that more than 2,600 personnel with the LAPD are planning to seek religious exemptions from the city’s vaccination mandate for municipal employees.

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“I personally find it appalling that the personnel of a department charged with public safety would willfully, intentionally and brazenly endanger the lives of those who they protect have taken an oath to protect,” he said, specifically targeting “those individuals who openly disregard the solemn promise they made to protect the citizens of Los Angeles by refusing to be vaccinated”

“I ask each officer who has yet to receive a vaccine to do so,” Briggs continued. " You swore an oath to protect and serve. You need to uphold that oath.”

His remarks also come after a wave dozens of people reached out to the Commission, most of who were criticizing the outbreaks ripping across the department. According to the Los Angeles Times, the LAPD has battled back 37 outbreaks since the start of the global health crisis.

As of Sunday, more than 1,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported within the department.

A recent ordinance issued in Los Angeles require all city employees become inoculated against coronavirus — excluding those with legitimate religious and medical exemptions. The move has triggered lawsuits challenging the rule.

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