NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A veteran NYPD officer has died of complications related to COVID-19, marking the department's 60th virus-related fatality, authorities said Friday.
Officer Sony Clerge passed away Friday morning, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Twitter. Clerge was assigned to the NYPD's Transit Borough Manhattan Task Force.
"For more than 19 years, Police Officer Sony Clerge proudly served the people of NYC and helped keep our transit system safe," Shea wrote. "The hearts of the NYPD family are a bit more broken today."
"Sony and his family are forever in our prayers," he added.
Clergy's death came less than a week after the NYPD announced that another department veteran, Det. Shantay Neal-Baker, had died of complications related to the virus.
As of Friday, 60 members of the NYPD had died of complications related to COVID-19, the department confirmed to 1010 WINS.
The department's current vaccination rate is 47%, a spokesperson said.
"Since vaccines became available, we have encouraged our employees, especially those who have contact with the public, to get vaccinated," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We continue to make vaccinations available at multiple times and multiple locations to ensure that as many of our employees as possible get the vaccination."
