‘Let the city have their independence without cops’: NYPD officers encouraged to ‘strike’ on 4th July, report says

Claims come as New York Governor signs into law sweeping police reforms

Officers being encouraged to call in sick in protets on Independence Day, report claims (AFP via Getty Images)

New York Police officers are being encouraged to call out sick on 4 July as a strike against sweeping police reforms in the state, according to a report.

A number of officers told The New York Post that they had received messages encouraging them to go on strike on Independence Day beginning at 3pm in response to a “perceived anti-cop climate”.

“NYPD cops will strike on July 4th to let the city have their independence without cops,” the message, which is being passed among cops via text, according to the sources.

The Post said that it is unclear whether the messages are being written by other police officers.

“Cops that say we can’t strike because of the Taylor Law,” the message allegedly reads.

“The people and this city doesn’t honor us why honor them.”

The Taylor law makes public worker stoppages punishable with fines and jail time, often leading officers to use sick days or ‘blue flu’ to stage protests by simultaneously using their sick leave.

Another message reportedly gives instructions for officers to call in sick to their precinct. If they are refused a sick day the flyer allegedly instructs them to call the main NYPD sick desk.

“Police officers like you and me took an oath to protect strangers regardless of race, class or gender,” the message reportedly reads. “Today we are vilified and must stand as one.”

When contacted by The Independent the NYPD insisted that there would not be a strike on the 4 July or any other day.

“New York City Police Officers will be here today, tomorrow, and on the 4th of July July to protect all New Yorkers”, Sergeant Jessica McRorie, a spokesperson for the department’s deputy commissioner for public information said.

“To suggest otherwise is false.”

According to The Post, if the initial attempts to sick out do not work officers are encouraged to report for duty and then ask for an ambulance so they can go home sick.

“If you are held because of the #Bluflu, request a bus and go sick from command,” the flyer reportedly reads.

Police officers in the state and across the country have received heightened scrutiny and resistance from the public following weeks of national civil unrest and protests catalysed by the death of George Floyd.

Many civil rights movements have been calling for officials to defund the police and redistribute funding to social services and welfare programmes, accusing police departments of continued systemic racial discrimination against black Americans and police brutality.

PBA president Patrick Lynch told the newspaper that New York City police officers “have reached the breaking point.”

“Over the past few weeks, we have been attacked in the streets, demonized in the media and denigrated by practically every politician in this city,” Mr Lynch said.

“Now we are facing the possibility of being arrested any time we go out to do our job.”

Last week Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a sweeping police reform agenda that includes the banning of chokeholds in the state.

The legislation includes a number of provisions including banning chokeholds by law enforcement officers, prohibiting false race-based 911 reports, and designating the Attorney General as an independent prosecutor for matters relating to the civilian deaths.

The agenda also repealed section 50A of the civil rights law to allow for transparency of prior disciplinary records of law enforcement officers.

“The murder of George Floyd was just the tipping point of the systemic injustice and discrimination that has been going on in our nation for decades, if not centuries,” Mr Cuomo said.

“These are issues that the country has been talking about for a long time, and these nation-leading reforms will make long overdue changes to our policing and criminal justice systems while helping to restore community confidence in law enforcement.”

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced earlier this month a pledge to cut funding to the New York Police Department.

“We know this isn’t a cure,” Ms Stewart-Cousins the New York senate majority leader said at the signing of the ‘Say Their Name’ agenda package last Friday.

“We know this is the beginning but it is a move to bring justice to a system that has long been unjust.”