Horrified firefighters demand action after co-worker 'wiped buttocks' with vaccine noncompliance letter, says LA Times report

• A firefighter wiped his buttocks with a vaccine non-compliance letter, it is alleged.
• The firefighter has been put on paid administrative leave and the incident is being investigated, reported the LA Times.

A Los Angeles firefighter is under investigation after they "responded inappropriately" to a vaccine noncompliance letter, a department spokeswoman said Wednesday, the LA Times reports.

The unnamed firefighter had received the letter after not complying with the city's COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

The LAFD member allegedly responded by "dropping his pants and wiping his buttocks with the letter," the newspaper said, citing the Stentorians of Los Angeles City, a group representing Black firefighters.

The group said that the man left fecal matter on the document, and their statement reportedly included a photo of a man holding what appeared to be a discolored document, LA Times said.

The Stentorians said that an LAFD captain and a chief officer witnessed the incident in a fire station in Pacific Palisades, in west Los Angeles.

"The department is aware of the seriousness of the allegations and took immediate action upon learning of this incident," LAFD spokeswoman Cheryl Getuiza told the LA Times.

She added that the firefighter is on paid administrative leave and "will face the consequences of any inappropriate acts."

Getuiza said that the incident had been entered into a complaint tracking system and that the department's Professional Standards Division was investigating.

She declined to comment on the details of the incident, which she said occurred on November 18, the paper said.

Insider has approached the LAFD for further comment.

In a statement to the paper, the Stentorians said that they were "sickened and disgusted by this horrific display of unprofessionalism," which they described as a "terminable" offense.

The group called on the mayor, City Council, and fire commission "to take swift and immediate action to deter any city employee from feeling entitled and not encouraged but empowered to behave in such an embarrassing and threatening manner."

Los Angeles has sent vaccination compliance notices to workers as part of the city's new vaccination mandate.

Officials have said that those who are yet to be vaccinated or seek exemptions must provide proof of vaccination by December 18.

Last week, Los Angeles's mayor said that 77 workers were on unpaid leave after refusing to sign such notices.

The city has introduced one of the strictest vaccine mandates in the United States.