New York Police Department Commissioner Dermot Shea said Tuesday that he fully supports a law requiring city cops to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
"Yes, I would, 100 percent," Shea told NY1 when asked if immunization should be mandatory for cops, like it is for city teachers.
“There’s just so much unnecessary loss [of life] in my opinion right now," he continued. "We lost somebody last week that was an extremely healthy man that had at one point in his career not gotten sick for 17 years. Think about that. Never called in sick in 17 years and we lost him.”
The commissioner said he would not impose a mandate himself, however. He called on lawmakers at the "state level or even the federal level" to set the rules.
The NYPD was among the first groups in New York state eligible for the vaccine, yet data from the department says that less than half of its employees are vaccinated. Unvaccinated NYPD employees are required to wear masks at virtually all times while on the job, per a city mandate.
Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed the vaccine issue with regards to state schools Tuesday, saying her office will release "concise and consistent" policies this week.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont recently announced that state employees would be required to get the vaccine, with a first dose no later than September 27.