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LIBERTY, Missouri: Although authorities have encouraged people to wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus, many police departments let officers decide whether to cover their faces while interacting with the public.
Some cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, require police to wear masks in most situations, but law enforcement elsewhere is exempt from such protocols.
In Kansas City, Missouri, two speakers at a council of police commissioners meeting earlier this month criticized officers for not regularly wearing masks in public, saying they even had to distribute masks to some at that event.
At the time, the city exempted essential workers such as police officers and first responders from wearing masks, while requiring everyone else to do it outside the home. But Mayor Quinton Lucas removed that exemption on Monday as it issued a stricter set of guidelines citing an increase in COVID-19 cases.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the masks help slow the spread of the coronavirus by inhibiting the flow of respiratory droplets that carry the virus. The CDC guidelines for law enforcement essentially mirror the safety guidelines for members of the public.
In Minnesota, residents are required to wear masks in indoor activities or public spaces, and people who work outside must wear them when social distancing is not possible.
But police and other first responders have been exempted “in situations where wearing a face cover would seriously interfere with their public safety responsibilities.”
Jim Mortenson, executive director of Law Enforcement Labor Services, a Minnesota police union, said reasonable exemptions are needed.
“If you run into someone and someone starts firing a weapon at your vehicle while you’re coming to a scene, the last thing you’ll think about is wearing a mask,” Mortensen said.
Other union police officials have either refused to discuss the matter or said local police departments should take the lead in masking decisions. Mik Shanks, president of the Kansas State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, said individual departments must determine how officers are equipped.
It is reasonable to expect police to wear masks during routine work, said David A. Harris, a law professor and law enforcement expert at the University of Pittsburgh.
“When the requirement says it’s not necessary, period, it’s understandable that the public will ask why,” Harris said. “If there’s no reason they can’t and shouldn’t wear masks, why not wear them?”
Mayors of New York and Chicago said officers will be punished for failing to comply with mask ordinances following complaints from the public.
When asked about the officers unmasked at a recent rally on Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said his office has repeatedly talked about the matter with city agencies. He thinks progress has been made, but more needs to be done.
“Sometimes, particularly in public safety work or healthcare work, there may be a valid reason, but overwhelmingly, all civil servants should wear those masks, period, and if they don’t, there should be consequences,” he said.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has threatened disciplinary action for officers who ignore the city’s obligation to wear masks on duty when social distancing is not possible.
The city has stepped up its efforts to ensure officers comply with department directives, public awareness campaigns, internal messaging and compliance checks. Disciplinary proceedings began last week against an agent for not wearing a mask and other investigations are ongoing, city spokesman Howard Ludwig said.
Refusal to wear masks is also a symptom of low morale among police officers who have been repeatedly attacked and vilified, particularly since protests against racial injustice erupted following George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis in May, he said Eugene O’Donnell, formerly of New York. City Police Officer and Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
“You can’t ignore that culture warfare is central to this,” O’Donnell said. “The government kicked out the police and used the issue as a political mechanism. They have not cared about the life of the officers and are seen as if they pretend to worry about the problem of masks … This is not a good time to ask the police something. “
And it is unreasonable to expect officers to worry about wearing a mask while also carrying weapons and fulfilling other responsibilities, he said.
“It’s match day out there. You have to take it seriously and tune in all the time, “O’Donnell said.” Some officers just legitimately think that adding to a long to-do list could distract focus at work, which can quickly become serious. “
Harris agreed that masks can restrict vision, impede breathing, and otherwise distract officers. But while he sympathizes, he said following protocols that protect the safety of the public and other officers is part of the job.
“We are all fed up,” Harris said. “Maybe they are more fed up than the others … Masks are a drawback for everyone. This is more than misery loves company. They signed up for a job that involves public contact. I’m sorry it’s one more thing, but those are the breaks. “
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