A City Hall source says that more than 15 percent of the Yonkers Police Department are are out sick amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the city of hills.
The city hall insider working from home says approximately 90 Yonkers PD officers and other department workers are unable to come to work
Last week Yonkers Tribune publisher Hezi Aris wrote that 30 YPD officers have now tested positive for the potentially deadly virus.
During a Q&A session streamed live from police headquarters on Facebook Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said he has ended two man patrol cars.
Yonkers’ top cop also noted that Mayor Mike Spano’s Health Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Ammir Rabadi had provided each precinct with thermometers for daily officer readings in an effort to combat the spread of coronavirus.
As reported last week in the Yonkers Free Press, the short staffed YPD is able to perform with less officers, because crime is down now that more and more people are off the street.
The Police Commissioner also disclosed that calls to Yonkers Police Department dispatchers are down.
The Yonkers PD has not been tough on officers calling out sick amid the coronavirus crisis.
Keith Olson the President of the Yonkers Police Benevolent Association said in a YouTube video that one officer will be cleared to return to work in a couple of days.
During the Facebook Q&A session, Yonkers Police Commissioner John Mueller said YPD officers were practicing social distancing protocols in the precincts and if possible asking civilian complaintants to meet officers outside of buildings.
Just south of Yonkers Five NYPD officers have already died as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Meanwhile, the Yonkers Office of Emergency management is asking for donations of masks, gloves and packets of hand sanitizer for the police department and other first responders in the city of hills.
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