The DC chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has asked the city to make it mandatory for police officers to wear face masks.
The organization sent a letter to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Peter Newsham, signed by Nassim Moshiree, Policy Director of the ACLU of DC.
“It is alarming to see Metropolitan Police Department officers, as front-line government workers, not adhering to public health guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). We write to ask that you take steps to require mandatory use of PPE for all MPD officers,” the letter said.
There have been multiple instances documented by individuals where DC officers failed to wear masks while engaging with the public and conducting enforcement activities, according to the letter.
“We understand that MPD officers have been given masks and are encouraged to wear them at their discretion, especially when in contact with someone within six feet. However, officers are not required to wear PPE while out on patrol and many are choosing to forego masks,” Moshiree added.
“Because I’m not sick,” is the response one activist got from an #MPD officer after she asked why he’s not wearing a mask. @MayorBowser @ChiefNewsham this is unacceptable. Require all officers on duty in public to wear masks! #MPDwithoutPPE https://t.co/1DpTS5OxEk
— Black Lives Matter DC (@DMVBlackLives) July 16, 2020
The group emphasized that many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or present mild symptoms, but may still be contagious, and that residents have to maintain a six-foot distance and wear a face covering in public as part of Phase Two reopening guidelines and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the risk of exposure of COVID-19.
A total of 169 MPD officers have tested positive for COVID-19, 136 recovered and returned to work, according to the ACLU of DC, which noted that “individuals who have recovered from the illness may still be contagious and could also get re-infected.”
“This is also an urgent matter of racial justice,” said the letter. “As recently reported, DC’s racial disparity in COVID-19 deaths is greater than any other major city with demographic data reported. MPD officers’ failure to wear PPE poses the greatest risk of harm to D.C.’s Black residents, who are more likely to have encounters with law enforcement than other residents. D.C.’s predominantly Black neighborhoods have the greatest police presence, and Black community members are disproportionately targeted by police for stops, searches, and arrests.”