NYPD cops may go on strike on July 4 so the city can have its ‘independence’ from them as tension continues to build between law enforcement and protesters in the Big Apple.
Messages have been circulating among law enforcement officers in New York encouraging them to call out sick in their masses on Independence Day.
‘NYPD cops will strike on July 4th to let the city have their independence without cops,’ reads one of the text messages sent among cops, according to the NY Post.
The potential walkout comes as the NYPD has come under fire after some officers have been caught on camera violently attacking protesters demanding an end to police brutality and systemic racism after the ‘murder’ of black man George Floyd at the hands of a white cop in Minneapolis.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio this week announced sweeping measures to make the NYPD more transparent including the launch of a new disciplinary database as calls are mounting for widespread police reform and the altogether defunding of the force.
NYPD cops may go on strike on July 4 so the city can have its ‘independence’ from them as tension continues to build between law enforcement and protesters in the Big Apple. NYPD officers are pictured forming a wall against protesters this month
Multiple cops said they have been sent messages urging them to call out sick July 4, in retaliation for New Yorkers not ‘honor[ing] us’, the Post reported
‘Cops that say we can’t strike because of the Taylor Law,’ reads one of the messages, which called for the strike to start at 3p.m. that day.
‘The people and this city doesn’t [sic] honor us why honor them [sic].’
The message references the Taylor Law – a New York State act which makes work stoppages punishable with jail time and fines.
A different message also calls for an Independence Day strike and talks about the #Bluflu – the slang name for a large sickout by cops.
‘Police officers like you and me took an oath to protect strangers regardless of race, class or gender,’ the message reads.
‘Today we are vilified and must stand as one.’
The message goes on to give instructions to officers for calling in sick, the Post reported.
It tells them to first call their precinct and log a sick day.
The next step if this is denied is to call the main NYPD sick desk.
Finally, if that is also turned down, cops should show up for work and ask for an ambulance to take them home sick, the Post reported.
NYPD officers pepper spray protesters on May 30. Messages have been circulating among law enforcement officers in New York encouraging them to call out sick in their masses on Independence Day
Cops spray mace on protesters at the Barclays Center. One message gives instructions for cops to call in sick, going as far as showing up for work and asking for an ambulance to take them home sick
‘If you are held because of the #Bluflu, request a bus and go sick from command,’ the message adds.
It is not clear if the messages of encouragement have been written by other NYPD cops but Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch told the Post that New York cops ‘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,’ Lynch said.
‘Now we are facing the possibility of being arrested any time we go out to do our job.’
The NYPD is facing scrutiny after footage of protests over Floyd’s death has shown multiple incidents of them violently responding to demonstrators.
Cop Vincent D’Andraia was charged with assault after he threw a female protester to the ground in an unprovoked attack in Brooklyn at the end of May.
In another incident in Brooklyn, an NYPD cruiser was seen deliberately plowing into protesters, ramming them out the way.
The potential walkout comes as the NYPD has come under fire after some officers have been caught on camera violently attacking protesters demanding an end to police brutality. Pictured above an NYPD cruiser deliberately plows into protesters
A burning NYPD van during protests in the city. Calls for the NYPD to be reformed or defunded altogether have been mounting
More than 350 officers have also been injured in recent weeks, as some protests have descended into rioting and violence.
Calls for police reform are sweeping the country and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a package of new bills for the state and an executive order mandating all local governments and police agencies develop and adopt plans to reform local police departments.
On Wednesday De Blasio introduced new plans for the city’s disciplinary database which by July will list out all 1,100 pending internal cases within the force, which are prosecuted by the department’s oversight agency the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
But some police officers are pressing back against calls for reform.
The NYPD did not immediately return DailyMail.com’s request for comment.
The potential pushback from New York cops comes as Atlanta police officers have been calling in sick to work this week in protest of charges against the cop who shot dead Rayshard Brooks.
Atlanta police officers have been calling in sick to work this week in protest of charges against the cop who shot dead Rayshard Brooks. Atlanta cops above on June 13
Garrett Rolfe has been charged on 11 counts including felony murder after he gunned down Brooks in a Wendy’s drive-thru during an arrest for DUI.
Scores of officers failed to turn up for work for Wednesday’s evening shift and people monitoring the police scanner reported near radio silence as cops rallied in outrage over his charges.
The sickout entered its second day Thursday with ‘most’ officers calling out sick, according to Facebook page Things Police See: First Hand Accounts, a page run by a former Massachusetts police officer.
In an effort to boost morale the Atlanta Police Foundation announced Thursday it would give every Atlanta Police officer a bonus of $500 as a thank you for their hard work and diligence over the past three months.
The foundation said it will also purchase 20 police cars to replace those that were destroyed in protests a few weeks ago.