A North Carolina police chief has been placed on unpaid leave and probation for informing officers about a “clinic” where they could get a COVID-19 vaccination card without actually getting the shot, local reports claimed. 

In a letter addressed to him from Town Administrator Doug Burgess, T.J. Smith, the police chief of Oakboro Town, North Carolina, it was stated that he violated policies including fraud, willful acts that endanger the property of others, and serving a conflict of interest when he allegedly told officers about the scheme.

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The alleged violations stem from “detrimental personal conduct including notifying law enforcement officers to attend a ‘clinic’ where they would be able to obtain proof of COVID 19 vaccination cards without being vaccinated,” the letter said.

The vaccine fraud allegations come as the Omicron variety spreads fast in the United States and around the world. The best protection against the extremely contagious strain that has been scaring health experts during the holiday season is a full vaccination as well as boosters.

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Dr. Mandy Cohen, the state’s secretary of health and human services, stated earlier this week that at its peak in January, North Carolina might have 10,000 Covid-19 cases every day.

Smith was ordered to go on unpaid leave for two weeks and probation for six months beginning December 21, according to a one-page letter signed by Burgess and released Tuesday. According to the letter, Smith has the right to appeal.

Burgess told CNN that the disciplinary actions were taken after the town hired Blue Chameleon Investigations to conduct an independent investigation into the situation, and the decision was made based on the facts.

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“To make a long story short, in retrospect, I made a mistake.” Smith stated in a statement to a local newspaper.

A friend notified Smith about a mobile immunisation clinic, according to the Stanly News & Press.

“After I got off the phone with that friend, I called two other officers (not in my department) and passed on information about what was described as a ‘self-vaccination’ clinic,”  he adds in part of the statement.”I got one phone call, hung up and made two others. I didn’t sit back and digest the information, ruminate on it, or otherwise give it much thought. I just passed it on.”