LAFD investigates captain after exploiting city vaccine warrant and calls it “tyranny”

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – A Los Angeles fire captain who called the city’s vaccination requirement for city workers a “tyranny” is being investigated by the department for appearing on guard and protesting against city ​​politics while wearing the uniform, department officials announced Monday.

Captain Christian Granucci, a 31-year veteran of the LAFD, is being investigated by the department’s professional standards division after posting a 12-minute video on social media that exploits the city’s vaccine mandate.

“This is tyranny. It’s about freedom of choice,” Granucci said in the video. “The department has said we can look for medical exemptions if we want to, if we can. This is a cake in the sky. We can even try to look for some kind of religious exemption, but they know they have final routes. Vaccines will come. Then it will be one reinforcement, another reinforcement and another reinforcement.When will this end?

“When will this tyranny stop? I’ll tell you where it will stop. It will stop right here, right now, and I’m putting my administration and my union in check. You had a chance to stand up to that and not “We want to give you the opportunity to do the right thing and represent the members.”

He said there were hundreds of firefighters who have detained a lawyer to combat the requirement.

“We have him detained and we will seek legal advice and bring the fight to the city of Los Angeles,” Granucci said.

RELATED: LA City Council approves vaccination warrant for city workers

An LAFD spokesman said the department became aware of the video Monday morning and issued a statement saying in part:

While we respect the person’s right to their opinion, they are not allowed to speak on behalf of the department. The individual is in uniform and appears to be on duty, thus giving the impression that he is speaking in official charge. Therefore, the matter has been sent to our Professional Standards Division for investigation, which may lead to disciplinary action. “

Los Angeles City Council last week passed an ordinance requiring vaccines against COVID-19 for all employees in the city, except for those who have medical or religious exemptions. Exemption applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted by September 7th.

City News Service contributed to this report.