Coronavirus hits hundreds of US police amid protective gear shortages

NEW YORK: When nine police officers showed up to make an arrest near Melrose Avenue in the Bronx last Wednesday, none wore a mask or gloves to protect them from coronavirus.

Some agencies are re-assigning detectives and administrative staff to help respond to emergencies as more patrol officers get sick, which requires pulling the investigators away from major cases. All of the New York officers interviewed by Reuters spoke on condition of anonymity. They say the department forbids them from speaking to reporters.Sergeant Jessica McRorie, an NYPD spokesperson, said that the department was responding to an"unprecedented" crisis and has issued detailed guidance to officers on how to protect themselves.

Masks and other protective or sanitary supplies have often been scarce since the pandemic sent worldwide demand surging, prompting safety concerns from a wide range of workers who interact daily with the public, from first responders to doctors to delivery drivers. Departments nationwide are struggling to protect their officers - and to operate without those who are getting sick. The Reuters survey asked police agencies how many of their employees tested positive for coronavirus, how many were quarantined, and how the outbreak has impacted their operations.

The outbreak is forcing law enforcement agencies nationwide to implement sweeping changes to their policing strategies. Some departments are limiting access to their buildings. Intercoms have been installed at the entrance doors of all seven precincts of the Suffolk County police department - also in Long Island, with nearly 2,500 officers - to screen visitors for symptoms before allowing entry.

“Those masks are in such dire need,” said Michael Mata, president of the Dallas Police Association. “We’re in a very bad spot."

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