By Chris Nelson. March 20, 2021. Pembroke Pines. The Pembroke Pines Fire Department has mandated that all personnel within the department receive the experimental Covid-19 vaccine according at an internal memo from Chief John Picarello obtained exclusively by Free Florida (attached). In the memo, Picarello says the mandate was his idea and the "ultimate and most important goal of mandating the vaccine is to save lives." It also says that "the practice of mandating vaccines is nothing new in our society." There are reports of heavy handed tactics being used on firefighters and personnel who refuse, according to an annonymous source within the department. "It has gotten so bad here. You would not believe it," said the source. "At first 180 of our 250 personnel said no to the vaccine, now it has dwindled to 30 holdouts." The source said this is due to the pressure being put on department personnel to take it. An internal email from Picarello (attached below) reads "All Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue Personnel are required to be vaccinated unless granted an exemption by the City." It continues, "The City deems it a matter of great public importance to advance the Covid-19 vaccination program to the greatest extent permitted by law." According to the source, this "advancement of the program" includes holding promotions, shaming personnel and moving personnel who refuse the shot to less desirable stations. "People are afraid to refuse the vaccine due to fear of retaliation", the source said . "People are taking it under duress out of fear of being skipped for promotions. Morale in the department is the lowest I have seen it." The source said emails are sent to the department listing those who have not been vaccinated. As for Religious and Medical Exemptions, an internal email from Chief Picarello (read below) states, "If they are claiming they do not want to get it because of medical reasons they must attach a doctor's note to their memo." This would have to be approved by the City according to the memo. There are no mentions of Religious Exemptions. According to the source, those who refuse the vaccine are sent to another doctor. "The guy that runs our occupational medicine for the city. He's the one you have to see when you decline the vaccine. You write the memo, then they put you on the famous list which is read at the morning lineup. Then they tell everyone that because of the people named everyone must wear a mask at all times. Then they take you out of your home station and then send you to the bad station. Then you are sent to the doctor to get interrogated." The doctor being referred to is Dr. Robert Fleigelman of Occupational Medical Centers of America in Miramar. In a letter to the department dated February 1, 2021 (attached below) he says he will offer his services free of charge to talk to any fire department personnel refusing the vaccine. "It has been brought to my attention that there is a significant number of Pembroke Pines Firefighters who are not going for the Covid vaccinations being offered by the city," the letter says. "We ALL need to get immunized for ourselves, our families and society as a whole," it continues. The letter openly mocks individuals refusing the experimental vaccine. "Sorry, I forgot about the "fact" that Bill Gates is actually injecting microchips into us," reads Fleigelman's letter. Requests for comments from Pembroke Pines Fire Chief John Picarello and Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis have not been returned as of today. CALL TO ACTION ATTACHED! All cited documents can be viewed in whole below. The original story with all documents can be viewed here: https://freeflorida.me/thread/294-exclusive-pembroke-pines-f-d-mandates-vaccine-claims-of-coersion-and-punishment/