There are some serious deficiencies on the availability of masks and gloves across the City’s Detective Squads and Commands. The DEA’s labor attorneys are filing a PESH (Public Employees Safety and Health) Complaint and we will keep you apprised regarding the result.
DEA members should document properly any encounters with anyone believed to have the Coronavirus. We strongly encourage members to file Line of Duty paperwork and get an Exposure Number if you come into contact while on duty with an individual who exhibits signs of a serious respiratory illness or who has tested positive for the NOVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Symptoms of the virus include difficulty breathing, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever.
If you are denied an Exposure Number, document the name and rank of the person who denied it.
However, even in those situations where the Department will not provide an Exposure Number to a member (because the individual with whom you have interacted has not actually tested positive for the virus), but where you still suspect, based on the circumstances present, that the individual may have the virus or is exhibiting symptoms consistent with having the virus, you must thoroughly document such interaction in your activity log and command log. (Please retain a photocopy or photograph of your notations with a time and date stamp.) Make a notification to your immediate Supervisor. Entries must have sufficient information so that you will be able to complete the appropriate paperwork (e.g. Line of Duty injury report) should the need arise in the future. The more information the better.
Please inform the Union, and we will keep you apprised of further developments regarding this national medical predicament as we go about our jobs keeping the citizens of New York safe. The DEA is in contact with authorities on the federal, State, and City level to ensure our members have the proper protections and equipment. The DEA will always fight for the safety and protection of our members.
Paul DiGiacomo
President
