YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Youngstown Police Association Patrol Union President, James Rowley along with Youngstown Fire Union President, Charlie Smith have issued statements regarding Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown's plans for mandating all city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

In Rowley's statement, he expressed his disapproval of the mandate stating that it is along the lines of the new mandates issued by President Joe Biden. The full statement can be found below:

"I sat in dismay this morning after reading how the mayor is going to mandate city employees to get the COVID vaccine. According to the news article, Mayor Brown is working on it and it will be along the lines of the federal government vaccine mandate. Accordingly, Ohio Attorney General, David Yost has filed a lawsuit over the nationwide mandate by President Biden because it is 'unlawful and unconstitutional.' Additionally, Attorney General Yost stated, 'Forcing that kind of choice on people who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe creates a needless situation in which everyone loses."

"Let us look at that here in Youngstown. We just spent months working on recruitment and retention as our numbers dwindle only to have the mayor talking about a mandate that will cause some of our members to leave. We had 32 people sign up to take the last police exam. Nine no-showed, three failed, 20 passed. That is a far cry from years gone by when there were often hundreds that took it. We can't afford to lose anyone else here for any reason, let alone a vaccine mandate. Our officers are the ones that were on the front line during this pandemic the whole time. Thankfully, we have suffered no losses, but some had gotten sick. The YPA believes it is the right of the person to choose to get the vaccine based on their personal needs, not be forced for some political reason. It also is a bit odd that for the past 20 months of this pandemic that no one has been forced to test weekly and all of the sudden you will be required, seems punitive for not getting the vaccine."

"The science has suggested that getting vaccinated does not prevent infection or spread of the coronavirus, it just lessens the likelihood of getting serious illness or hospitalizations. So it is puzzling as to why a mandate would even be necessary. We will fight to protect our members against this mandate and hopefully we will not lose anyone over it. If the mayor wants to make it a condition of employment for new hires, that would be fine, but not force it on those already here who have not gotten it for their own reasons. Mayor Brown told me once you attract more flies with honey than you do vinegar. I believe he should follow his own advice here on this issue."

Additionally, the Youngstown Fire Union has also issued a statement opposing the mandate. Youngstown Firefighters Local 312 President, Charlie Smith also noted a staff shortage at the Youngstown Fire Department and believes the mandate will worsen the issue. The statement can be found below:

"Youngstown Firefighters Local 312 is taking immediate action in denouncing Mayor Brown's intentions of implementing a policy that all City of Youngstown employees be vaccinated for COVID-19."

"Local 312 would also like to highlight the fact that the Youngstown Fire Department has been dealing with a serious staff shortage for years now, as we've seen through daily station shutdowns. We believe that a vaccine mandate will only increase that burden. The fire department and the citizens of Youngstown cannot afford to lose any more fire fighters, especially when it comes to forcing an individual's personal medical decision."

"Youngstown firefighters have been out on the front line for the entirety of this pandemic, and even some who have gotten the vaccine have still become sick with COVID-19. There has also not been any kind of protocol put in place for the past 20 months as far as COVID-19 testing or checking, so this seems to be a far jump."

"Local 312 stands alongside the Youngstown Police Association in our belief that being vaccinated is a person's choice and not a choice that should be made by a city leader or government official."

"We would encourage Mayor Tito Brown to not follow through with a vaccine mandate, as two of the city unions on the front line have already publicly and respectfully disagreed. If a mandate or policy is released in the future, local 312 will continue to explore options and work with our members to ensure a decision is made that is best for them and the city of Youngstown."

21 News's Derek Steyer spoke with Mayor Brown about the vaccine mandates. A video of the full conversation can be found here.