Group of LAPD officers file lawsuit challenging COVID-19 vaccine mandate

LOS ANGELES — Six members of the Los Angeles Police Department filed a federal lawsuit on Saturday challenging the requirement that all city workers get immunized against COVID-19.

The LAPD employees identified as plaintiffs suing the city include Jason Burcham, Rodge Cayette, Michelle Lemons, Michael Puno, Susana Reynoso, and Ana Fuentes, Daily Wire reported.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. It “claims the mandate violates the employees’ constitutional rights to privacy and due process and asks the court to provide immediate and permanent relief from the requirement,” Los Angeles Times reported.

The City of Los Angeles, Mayor Garcetti, LAPD Chief Michel Moore, and City Administrative Officer Matthew Szabo are named as defendants.

The City Council previously approved the ordinance mandating vaccinations 13-0. It was signed into law by Democratic Mayor Eric Garcetti in August. The city directive gives employees until early October to be fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions. They must show evidence of immunization or be subject to weekly testing.

According to the complaint, some of the plaintiffs are city workers “who could not assert a medical or religious exemption” to the order, along with others who “experienced and recovered” from previous COVID-19 infections and may have natural immunity.

“The city does not and cannot point to any evidence that vaccinated individuals have longer-lasting or more complete immunity than those who have recovered from COVID,” the lawsuit states, per City News Service. “Studies indicate that these plaintiffs’ natural antibodies and immunity are greater than their vaccinated peers.”

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