A San Francisco police officer died of COVID-19 while on administrative leave for not being vaccinated.
Jack Nyce, a 17-year veteran of the force, received a month’s paid leave for missing the city’s Nov. 1 deadline to submit his vaccination status.
Lt. Tracy McCray, vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, told The San Francisco Chronicle that it was during this time that Nyce, who was not vaccinated, contracted covid-19.
He died of complications from his battle with the virus at a hospital in Manteca, California, with his wife Melissa by his side. She told the Chronicle that “he loved being a cop.”
Nyce, who also served in the military, tested positive for the virus last Tuesday and his health rapidly deteriorated.
On Saturday, his wife called an ambulance to take him to the hospital, where he died the same day.
In a Facebook post marking the passing of Mr. Nyce, the San Francisco Police Department said: “We are sorry for the loss of our own, Officer Jack Nyce, who passed away last Saturday.”
“I was 47 years old and had served our great city for 17 years. He was recently assigned to a district station and served in a variety of assignments throughout his career, ”the post reads. “He leaves behind many friends, co-workers and family who will miss him very much.”
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He concludes: “Thank you for your service to our city Jack Nyce, it will never be forgotten.”
Officer Nyce’s death comes as cities across the country disagree with some members of their police forces over vaccine mandates.
New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other major cities have faced legal challenges, threatened strikes and clashed with police unions over the requirement that officers be vaccinated.
Nearly 200 members of the San Francisco Police Department applied for a religious exemption in September, and approximately 70 officers and civilian workers were put on leave on November 1 when the deadline passed.
As of November 2, 97.5 percent of the city’s police force is fully vaccinated, according to a statement from the department. As of Saturday, those who have not presented proof of vaccination will be discharged without pay.
When New York’s vaccination mandate went into effect on the same day, threats from the police union that the city would be understaffed for up to 10,000 officers did not materialize and only 34 NYPD officers were put on leave without pay. and there was no interruption of service.
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