NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Eight NYPD officers were hospitalized with COVID as of Wednesday, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said.
"As of this morning, we have eight members that are hospitalized with COVID, but thankfully all are in stable condition," Shea said during a "State of the NYPD" webinar to the NYC Police Foundation.
Shea said the virus "spread within the police department at an alarming rate no different than it had throughout our entire city, our nation and the world."
"Ultimately, the NYPD lost 48 members of our family. Thirty-four civilian members, eight uniformed members and six auxiliary officers," he said. "And every single one was a profound tragedy."
Shea said that since March, 9,200 department members have tested positive for COVID. About 8,200, or 90% of them, have already returned to work.
"And that includes now me," Shea said, several weeks after he tested positive for the virus.
Shea said that by early April of last year, the department had a 20% sick rate for uniformed members.
"It was the highest rate we've had in modern history. We've never seen anything approaching that. We're normally at about 3% at the top," Shea said.
He said that "despite the massive headwinds that we all faced," including the pandemic, large protests and a spike in gun violence, "the men and women of the New York City Police Department absolutely rose to the occasion."
"They did it with a diminished workforce," Shea said. "They did it all while getting shot, sometimes spit on. Too many of us sick. And, sadly, while losing colleagues and loved ones. Absolutely remarkable resilience, dedication and spirit."
