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Antivaxxer Robert LaMay, who resigned as a Washington State Trooper last year after refusing to get vaccinated, has died Friday after battling COVID-19, according to KIRO Newsradio.
After 22 years serving state citizens, the 50-year-old famously signed off on video from inside a state patrol vehicle during which he told off Democratic State Governor, Jay Inslee.
LaMay began working for the state in 1999 as a Trooper Cadet assigned to the Collision Records Section.
BREAKING: \u2066@KIRONewsradio\u2069 has been able to confirm Trooper LaMay died after a battle with Covid. He famously quit over vaccine mandates, saying in a viral video in his last WSP radio transmission that \u201cGovernor Inslee can kiss my a**.\u201d He was 50. \u2066@Mynorthwest\u2069pic.twitter.com/OByMNNv26h— Charlie Harger (@Charlie Harger) 1643425056
“Jay Inslee can kiss my a**," said LaMay in the video filmed on his last day on the force.
WARNING: explicit language
Former Washington State trooper Robert LaMay, who went viral when he was fired for refusing to get vaccinated and told the governor to 'kiss his ass,' has died of COVID-19pic.twitter.com/yjX8aeeOGE— BNO Newsroom (@BNO Newsroom) 1643421092
Throughout his tenure, he held different specialty positions with the State Patrol–including as Armorer, Certified Reconstructionist, and Drug Recognition Expert.
But when the Governor issued his statewide vaccination proclamation requiring all state employees, higher education, childcare, and K-12 education employees, and most health and long-term care providers to be fully vaccinated with a recommended COVID-19 vaccine by October 18, 2021, to retain employment, LaMay opted to walk.
After defying Inslee's vaccine mandate by quitting the force last year, LaMay told Fox News in an interview that he and his family "don't do vaccines," adding, “We don’t do flu shots or any of that stuff.”
LaMay said he filed for a religious exemption and claimed the lack of jobs maintaining his pay grade and requiring him to move across the state for positions accepting his exemption were deplorable.
You can watch the Fox News report, here.
Social media users were flummoxed as to why anti-vaxxers–in spite of proven science COVID vaccines are effective and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in fighting off the virus–remain obstinate in their self-serving positions.
Can you imagine the amount of regret this guy felt the moment he was told he had to be put on a ventilator? Such a small thing and he could've avoided all of it. It's just so crazy to me.— Kyle T (@Kyle T) 1643421297
If only there was a way to avoid this\u2026..— Larry Roecker (@Larry Roecker) 1643429190
Did Fox News report his death considering they publicized his anti-vax stance? Serious question. You know, since they\u2019re Fair and Balanced.— Alphonse Giodello (@Alphonse Giodello) 1643425495
Only 50 years old. Pretty sure he would still be alive if he had just gotten vaccinated. \n\nCovid is the leading cause of death of police officers, and antivaxx rhetoric from @FoxNews is one of the main contributors. So much for \u201cbacking the blue.\u201dhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/10/18/washington-trooper-vaccine-firing/\u00a0\u2026— Denise Dewald, MD \ud83d\uddfd (@Denise Dewald, MD \ud83d\uddfd) 1643423036
He sure did 'own the libs.'https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1487241972410683397?s=20&t=NCEW6zrfC1FAR-by0MvffQ\u00a0\u2026— Steven J. Frisch (@Steven J. Frisch) 1643425560
People slammed for lacking sympathy have lost patience.
When they mock us for wanting to not die, I'm gonna mock them when they do.\n\nI have ceased caring if that's mean. They should have considered that traumatized people won't treat them nice before they went around traumatizing people.\n\nI wish hell existed so he could go there.— Rev Malachi Corbeau (@Rev Malachi Corbeau) 1643438830
No\u2026\u2026the sick society portion is the people who refuse to get Vaccinated and then they get sick and die that\u2019s the sick part of our society. I try to have sympathy but it has been wearing thin very very thin lately.— Ernest B. (@Ernest B.) 1643456512
pic.twitter.com/Y4z5kba47y— Hmm Dirt & Grass!!! (@Hmm Dirt & Grass!!!) 1643430046
This is sad what misinformation can do to someone. But he paid the piper with his actions....\n\nWe aren't telling people to get vaxxed because we hate them. Getting vaxxed is a way to show someone that they care about themselves and their community.\n\n@GovInslee @ABC @CBSNews— Sassytweeter, MD, MPH (@Sassytweeter, MD, MPH) 1643421390
LaMay's former boss, State Patrol Chief John Batiste, issued the following statement:
“I am deeply saddened over the news that our former friend and colleague Trooper Robert LaMay has passed away. This agency’s prayers and remembrances are with his family and loved ones."
"Rob served honorably for over two decades and we were disappointed to see him leave the agency this past October. His service to this state and agency will be long remembered and appreciated."
"Let us now remember our old friend, support his family and loved ones, give thanks for his service, and resolve to meet the challenges ahead with continuing duty, dignity and respect.”