To the editor:

The Lawrence police union says, “we respect our (members’) right to choose whether or not to be vaccinated.” 

In my lifetime I have been a member of three different unions. I respect what unions have done for our nation as a whole. But what are we doing here? How in the world can you use the word “respect” when the thing you are respecting is the right to ignore the safety of those you are sworn to protect? How can we place our trust in law enforcement when some of them choose to ignore the recommendations of the scientific community.

Some officers must believe that doctors don’t understand the science concerning the safety of these vaccines. But they would have no problem going to those same doctors to have their appendix removed.

The time for leniency has ended. Too many people have died. If you don’t get vaccinated, then you should be terminated. That’s it. Why continue to baby these officers? They work for us.

And, once a week testing is not adequate as a replacement for the vaccine. So please don’t steal our tax dollars, whether local or federal, to test these nonbelievers. Terminate them. Then the problems go away.

Officers, please grow up and get vaccinated, for the safety of Lawrence.

Bob Siegele,

Lawrence