Seattle first responders fired for vaccine noncompliance march on city hall to turn in their boots

Seattle Police Department officers and firefighters who were fired for not complying with the city's COVID-19 vaccine mandate marched up the steps of city hall to turn in their boots.

The scene comes after the city's deadline for first responders to receive the vaccine expired at midnight on Tuesday, leaving many in the department without jobs after failing to comply.

But Seattle officials struck an optimistic tone despite the loss of dozens of first responders, saying that public safety will remain a top priority in the city while arguing that both departments had extremely high vaccination rates.