‘Several cops’ at Greenwich Village’s Sixth Precinct reportedly test positive

Last Friday, a reliable source told The Village Sun that “several cops” at Greenwich Village’s Sixth Precinct had recently tested positive for coronavirus and are out sick.

The source said this information comes from a Sixth Precinct officer.

A precinct community affairs officer declined to comment and referred questions to the New York Police Department’s press office, the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

The previous week, Robert Jackson, a Sixth community affairs officer, had reported to The Village Sun that no one was out sick with coronavirus at that time.

Police are said to be concerned about news of sick officers getting out to the public because they “don’t want to freak out people.”

A D.C.P.I. spokesperson also declined to answer whether any Sixth Precinct officers are out sick with the virus. He, in turn, referred questions to the Mayor’s Press Office or the city Department of Health.

The Village Sun requested comment from the respective mayoral spokespersons for the Police Department and D.O.H. but has not received a response.

As of last Friday, at least 11 percent of the N.Y.P.D. workforce had called in sick, including more than 10 percent of uniformed officers. As of last Friday morning, more than 500 Police Department employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

Three N.Y.P.D. employees have died from coronavirus, including a Harlem detective — who suffered from underlying conditions of asthma and diabetes — an administrative aide and a custodian at Police Headquarters.

A post on the Sixth Precinct’s Facebook page states, “As the NYPD continues to keep NYC safe & navigate issues around #COVID19, our members’ health is top priority. Currently we have increased cleaning in all facilities, quarantined members can return to work only if cleared by NYPD doctors, and large meetings will be canceled.

“To ensure the safety of every member, we will be staggering schedules, allowing nonessential civilian employees to work from home. #COVID19 safety equipment will continue to be made available to cops on the frontline.”