NYPD Officers Will be Punished for Failure to Wear COVID Masks: Memo

By Kevin Deutsch
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An internal NYPD memo says cops will face “disciplinary action” for failing to wear masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report

The administrative bulletin was sent to all NYPD members on Friday, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other politicians blasted officers for not wearing face coverings, according to the New York Post.

“They are required to wear face coverings at all times when performing duties in public areas and Department facilities and whenever social distancing is not possible,” the memo states, adding that officers can only remove their masks while eating or drinking.

“Failure to comply with the above listed guidelines, or other appropriate posted signage, will result in disciplinary action,” the document reads.

The memo, according to the Post, was sent out by the NYPD’s Personnel and Human Resources Division—not the office of NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea.

Police in the Bronx are routinely seen in public not wearing masks, despite the borough experiencing higher COVID-19 positivity rates than the rest of the city during much of this year.

About Eric Klein 108 Articles
Eric Klein is an editor for Bronx Justice News. Born and bred in the Bronx, he lives on the Grand Concourse, where at least one member of his family has resided every year since the 1930s. Eric has two sons and, like them, is a die-hard New York Yankees fan.