Central Pa. police officers fired for turning in fake COVID-19 vaccination cards

[left-of-center2012]

Two Lancaster City police officers lost their jobs this week after authorities discovered they’d submitted fake coronavirus vaccination cards, according to news reports. Officers Heather Schaeffer and Benjamin Lapp violated the city’s COVID-19 reporting policy when they turned in the cards, therefore lying about being vaccinated, according to a LancasterOnline review of the termination letters.

Jess King, chief of staff to Mayor Danene Sorace, reportedly told the news outlet earlier this year that employees are strongly encouraged but not required to get vaccinated. Schaeffer got a blank vaccination card from her cousin, who is in the military and involved with vaccination efforts, according to LancasterOnline. Schaeffer then made a copy of the blank card and sold it to Lapp for $20, the website reported.

Capt. Richard Mendez caught onto the scheme because Schaeffer and Lapp were openly talking about it at work, LancasterOnline said. Schaeffer reportedly had other blank vaccination cards that she might have been selling. On Friday the Lancaster Bureau of Police said Schaeffer and Lapp were fired for “violating required standards of conduct, for conduct unbecoming an officer and for conduct suggesting they are unfit for service as police officers.” No additional information was provided.

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office opened a criminal investigation on Sept. 29, according to LancasterOnline. District Attorney Heather Adams declined to comment to the news outlet.
Schaeffer was sworn in in March 2017 and was making $72,349 at the time she was fired, LancasterOnline said. The news outlet said
Lapp was hired in August 2016 and making $79,622 upon termination.

https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2021/10/central-pa-police-officers-fired-for-turning-in-fake-covid-19-vaccination-cards-report.html

[pandr32]

1. Good riddance

I don't think they were very pro upholding the law.

[SMC22307]

2. DeSantis will hire them. Get the hell out of PA, cheaters. (n/t)

[Bleacher Creature]

3. I'm pretty sure this is a federal crime. NT

[SoCalDavidS]

6. If Only The Feds Cared To Do Anything

I'm sure if DOJ handles, they'll ask for a light sentence.

[Hekate]

4. They'll enjoy their new careers in Florida. Say hi to DeathSantis for us.

Morons.

[brush]

5. Two more dummies. All they had to do was take ten minutes...

to go to CVS and actually get vaxxed and a real card. These trumpers get stupider everyday.

[SoCalDavidS]

7. They Didn't Even Have To Do That

The article says vaccination is recommended but not required.

[AZ8theist]

15. Then what's the point???

If it wasn't required, what's the point of turning in fake cards?

Shows these 2 bozos are too stupid to be on ANYBODY'S payroll, much less the police force.

[LiberalFighter]

8. I would be interested in how they forged it.

I doubt they had necessary parts to make it look legitimate enough. My card has stickers on it identifying the batch info used for the vaccine. And if the employer did their job properly they would had confirmed the info with the state or insurance carrier.

Otherwise, how would employees in federal employment or those meeting federal laws be confirmed?

[getagrip_already]

11. I'm in some kind of state registry (ma)...

When I went to get my booster, I forgot my card. The worker said no problem, I can look it up.

She filled out a new card including my 2 original Vax records. No barcodes, just the record info. It wasn't even at the same pharmacy chain.

So some states at least track vaccinations in a database and can confirm your history.

[LiberalFighter]

12. And my insurance carrier has a record of the shots available to me online.

[localroger]

19. There is a database

It's not public, and access to it is restricted (HIPAA). But it's there. Here in Louisiana we have the super nifty LAwallet app for cellphones, which can function as your driver's license (at least in-state). When vaccinations started they added vax status as an option. You have a control which requires you to "opt-in" (HIPAA again) but as soon as you do, it just KNOWS. Date, type of vaccine, all of it, just from the info on your driver's license. Which is a reason that forging vax cards is a really stupid thing to do. You WILL get caught.

[left-of-center2012]

13. No stickers on my card

The pharmacy where I got the shots wrote in the info. That seems to be the most common way.
See example:

[AZ8theist]

16. Same here...

Just dates, batch #'s, location. No stickers.

[Mariana]

22. They don't all have stickers. Mine is handwritten. nt.

[Phoenix61]

9. Mine is just written in. nt

[Phoenix61]

10. The military cousin is in a world of trouble.

The military really dislikes it when a troop creates negative publicity.

[Johonny]

14. Law and order

what a joke these people are

[70sEraVet]

17. The federal government needs to start pushing for harsh punishment for these forgeries.

Five years in a federal prison for forging a government label. Period.

[keithbvadu2]

18. The kind of cops who would plant evidence.

The kind of cops who would plant evidence.

[Sugarcoated]

20. LOL

Buh bye

[bluecollar2]

21. Time to look at all the convictions etc. that may have arisen

As the result of their deception.

If they'll lie/cheat about a simple vaccination I'm pretty sure they'd do the same under oath.