ROCKVILLE, Md. — As many as 300 Montgomery County police officers say they are ready to retire or quit if they are forced to get a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination, according to the police union.
Police officers, union leaders and county workers told the county council Tuesday that a proposed vaccine mandate for all county employees would do far more harm than good.
According to Montgomery County data, nearly 20% of police officers and nearly 36% of Fire/EMS workers say they’re either not vaccinated or won’t disclose their status.
Two county council members have proposed a bill to make vaccination for all county employees mandatory; those who don't comply would risk losing their jobs.
Tuesday's virtual public hearing turned emotional, as dozens spoke out against the proposal.
County health worker Marco Aguilar shouted and showed pictures of himself working at a testing center during the early days of the pandemic, while opposing the proposed mandate.
“I was one of the first individuals out on the front line with just a rain coat -- no PPE was given to me!” Aguilar yelled. “What wrong have I done to you that you deserve to punish me and terminate me from my job!”
Police officers also weighed in with testimony resisting mandatory vaccination.
"There's been a time when we were revered as frontline heroes and now we are faced with termination because of this extreme and unnecessary bill," officer Mark Hugi, who spoke as a citizen representing himself, said.
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35 President Lee Holland issued a warning to county leaders.
“Recent polling of our membership shows approximately 300 officers are considering leaving if this bill passes," Holland said. "These numbers are real and scare me as a county resident, and this should scare everyone."
According to Holland, 25% of Montgomery County police officers are eligible for retirement immediately, which would make walking away easy for many of those opposed to a vaccine mandate.
The public safety unions and the county’s administration fear firings or retirement would be crippling for public safety because there is already a shortage of first responders.
County Executive Marc Elrich testified that he's opposed to a vaccine mandate for all county employees despite his personal desire that 100% should get the shots.
County Councilmember Hans Riemer is a sponsor of the proposed mandate.
“COVID is not done with us yet. And we can't throw in the towel," Riemer said. "Employees, their families and all county residents are still at risk."
However, other council members, including President Tom Hucker said the county has failed to provide adequate testing for unvaccinated workers which would ease the need for a mandate. Hucker sharply questioned the county's assistant chief administrative officer about why the Elrich administration has not yet met a deadline to provide testing for all county workers.
Nearly 80% of the county's 9,400 employees reported that they are either partially or fully vaccinated, according to county data.
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