NYPD Officers on Front Lines Hit by Coronavirus
Law enforcement officers charged with protecting NYC
communities—with so much of their work over the last weeks dedicated to
enforcing social distancing around the city—are themselves not being protected
against the virus that is everywhere in the city.
The astounding numbers are confirmed by NYPD Commissioner Dermot
Shea, who reported that “1,400 members of the department have tested positive
for Covid-19, and five members have unfortunately lost their lives to the
disease.” Shea also did not dispute a report by CNN that 6,200 members (17%)—including
uniformed and civilian members of the force—are now out sick.
He admitted that, “we are scrambling” to keep up with the
various tasks overwhelming the NYPD these days.
The commissioner did note that many of even those who were
previously sick with the Coronavirus are already recovered. “They are returning
to work in large numbers, helping t heir brothers and sisters on the front
lines,” he said.