Unvaccinated NYPD cops must wear masks, department memo says

NYPD cops without a COVID-19 vaccination must now wear masks on duty or risk disciplinary action, according to an internal department directive.

The so-called internal FINEST message, dated August 17, went out to nearly 35,000 uniformed members of the NYPD. The directive requires officers to mask up at all times on the job, including when driving NYPD vehicles. The message, a copy of which was obtained by Newsday, said officers who want to remove their face coverings can do so only if they are fully vaccinated and have provided proof to the department’s medical office.

"[Cops] who do not have official proof of vaccination status on file with the medical division must wear a face covering at all times while working, whether indoors or outside,’ the message stated.

The NYPD directive comes as the department struggles to get more cops vaccinated. Commissioner Dermot Shea, in an interview Wednesday on WPIX-TV, said that only about 47% of cops are vaccinated. It's a level that is "still not where we wanted to be," Shea said, although a slight increase from about 44%.

According to the internal masking directive, cops won’t be subject to masking when they are eating, drinking, adjusting face coverings due to temperature or to correct breathing conditions.

But all cops, regardless of vaccination status, must wear masks in elevators and when interacting with the public. All mask requirements are mandatory and violations are subject to disciplinary action, according to the directive. It was unclear Wednesday what penalties an officer might face for violating a mask requirement.

In a statement late Wednesday, an NYPD spokesman said the department was making vaccinations available at multiple locations at numerous times for cops.

The spokesman, Sgt. Edward Riley, said a total of 59 members of the NYPD have died from COVID-19 complications.

Officials with the Police Benevolent Association, the union for rank-and-file cops, said the group’s lawyers were reviewing the directive and declined to comment further.

Officials with two other major unions, the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association and the Detective Endowment Association, couldn’t be reached for comment.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.