New York City Could Lose 30% of Police Force, Fire Department Over Vaccine Mandate

With crime rates surging across the country, New York City may find itself ill-equipped to put out a sufficient police force.

New Quartz estimates say New York City may lose up to 30% of its police force and fire department after October 29 over the city's vaccine mandate. NYC's mandate puts officers and firefighters on unpaid leave if they have not received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

"About 6,500 New York Police Department (NYPD) employees—or roughly 30% of the agency's total workforce of 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilians—who have so far refused to get vaccinated," the outlet finds.

And that's not all. On Wednesday, the New York City firefighters union warned city officials that the vaccine mandate could lead to similar shortages of 911 dispatchers and emergency medical technicians.

Notably, simply replacing unvaccinated officers with incoming vaccinated police is not plausible. Because of unreasonable expectations and media coverage, major cities are already struggling to find officers.

So far this year, the NYPD's headcount fell to its lowest level in ten years. Current police officers are retiring the moment they're eligible, while fewer Americans are pursuing a career in law enforcement. Sadly, you can't blame any of them.

We are certainly not cheering the notion that a city could go without its most essential workers -- just the thought is beyond ominous. Still, the pro-mandate crowd had to know, at some point, they would receive push back in the worst way. And they now have.

New York cannot lose 30% of any of its police force. It cannot happen.