LAFD investigation captain after denouncing city’s vaccination mandate calls it “tyranny”

LOS ANGELES (KABC) – A Los Angeles fire captain who called the city’s vaccination requirement for city workers “tyranny” is under investigation by the department for appearing to be service and speaking out against city policy while wearing his uniform, department officials said Monday.

Captain Christian Granucci, a 31-year-old LAFD veteran, is under investigation by the department’s professional standards division after posting a 12-minute video on social media denouncing the city’s vaccination mandate.

“It’s tyranny. It’s about freedom of choice,” Granucci said in the video. “The ministry said we can ask for medical exemptions if we want, if we can. It’s a pie in heaven. We can even try to ask for some kind of religious exemption, but they know they have endpoints around these Vaccinations will come in. And then after that it’s going to be a reminder, and another reminder and another reminder.

“When will this tyranny end? I will tell you where it will end. It will stop here, right now, and I put my administration and my union back on track. You got it. “opportunity to put yourself in front of this and you haven’t. We want to give you the opportunity to do the right thing and represent the members.”

He said there were hundreds of firefighters who retained a lawyer to fight the requirement.

“We have it on warrant and we will seek legal advice and we will take the fight against you, the city of Los Angeles,” said Granucci.

RELATED: LA City Council Approves Vaccination Mandate for City Workers

A spokesperson for LAFD said the department saw the video on Monday morning and released a statement that read in part:

While we respect the individual’s right to their opinion, they are not permitted to speak on behalf of the Department. The individual is in uniform and appears to be on duty, giving the impression that he is speaking in an official capacity. As a result, the matter has been referred to our Professional Standards Division for investigation, which may result in disciplinary action. “

LA City Council last week approved an ordinance requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all city employees, except those on medical or religious exemptions. Exemption requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will be due by September 7th.

City News Service contributed to this report.