After years of being asked to protect and serve the City of Seattle, at least a third of Seattle Police Department officers say they’re finally ready to do it via a mass exodus when they’re fired from their jobs later this month for remaining unvaccinated.
“There were a few times where I thought, hey, maybe I will stop bullying homeless cyclists who can’t afford their own helmet and snatching pink umbrellas from protesters so I can do something that makes someone in this city actually safer,” said Officer Rick Vuckwit, one of hundreds of unvaccinated officers eligible for being fired later this month. “But I never really wanted to – until now. This month, I’m committing to staying unvaccinated and getting fired for not complying with the city’s vaccine mandate, all to finally protect and serve this city more than I ever have by simply and finally getting the fuck out of here.”
Social justice advocates say they’ve been blindsided by the unvaccinated cops’ sudden solidarity with the Defund the Police movement.
“It’s so inspiring that after all this fighting, these brave heroes are so willing to defund themselves all on their own,” said Defund the Police movement supporter Thalia Wheaton. “Who knew these brave souls unnecessarily exposing themselves and their poor families to the deadliest virus we’ve seen in the last century also wanted the City of Seattle to reallocate funds from the bloated Seattle Police Department budget to other initiatives that actually prevent and reduce crime, addiction and homelessness from happening in the first place.”
While many are looking forward to the exodus improving the city’s public health and public safety, not everyone is completely on board.
“I know I said I would fire any city employee who wasn’t fully vaccinated by Oct. 18,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “But, honestly, I’m kind of resentful about how much this city shit on me this last year – we’ll see if I let them go finally protect and serve by leaving the city and the Seattle Police Department at all.”
