A judge rejected New York City police union’s plea to temporarily suspend Mayor Bill de Blasio’s (D) order forcing all municipal workers, including law enforcement officers, to get at least one dosage of a coronavirus vaccine by the end of this week or risk unpaid vacation.
Judge Lizette Colon of Richmond County Supreme Court found that de Blasio’s requirement, which the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) of the City of New York is attempting to overturn, may go forward. According to Bloomberg, the official mentioned a previous state appellate decision favoring a measles vaccine requirement.
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 12: A New York City police officer stands in Times Square on August 12, 2013 in New York City. The controversial policy employed by the New York Police Department (NYPD) in high crime neighborhoods known as stop and frisk, has been given a severe rebuke by a federal judge on Monday. U.S. District Court Judge Shira Scheindlin has appointed an independent monitor to oversee changes to the NYPD’s stop and frisk tactics after finding that it intentionally discriminates based on race. Both New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Police officers, firefighters, and other municipal employees must get their first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccination by Friday or face being put on unpaid leave. On December 1, correctional personnel on Rikers Island, a New York City jail with staffing shortages and dangerous circumstances, will be subject to the order.
NYC Vaccine Mandate Could Cause Short Staff Among Police Officers
In a statement, New York head of the police union Patrick J. Lynch argued that the demand would cause fewer police officers ready to secure the city’s streets next month. He added that de Blasio’s mandate doesn’t give enough religious exemptions.
Union members have also voiced dissatisfaction with the city’s decision to allow no longer municipal workers to present negative test results instead of vaccination.
ALSO READ: NYC Workers Protest Against the City’s Recent COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate
According to the city, the obligation affects about 160,500 people, despite the fact that 71 percent of them have previously gotten at least one dose of vaccine. According to the city, at least one dosage must be received by 5 p.m. Friday.
Police departments around the country are confronting an infection pandemic as authorities attempt to impose vaccines but face opposition from police unions and employees. Law enforcement officials and municipal politicians have clashed in places such as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Seattle over similar laws.
City’s Vaccination Rate
CBS News said the NYPD’s vaccination rate has trailed behind the rest of the city, with a rate of 73 percent as of Tuesday, compared to 78.2 percent of adults in New York City who have been vaccinated. PBA, which covers more than 20,000 active NYPD officers, explained that being vaccinated is a personal medical choice.
The NYPD employs around 36,000 police officers and 19,000 civilians. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 60 NYPD officers, and according to the Officer Down Memorial Page, COVID-19 will be the leading cause of death among law enforcement officers in 2020 and 2021.
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