Hundreds of NYC jailers face suspension over vaccine mandate

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City’s troubled jail system is facing more turmoil: the suspension of hundreds of corrections officers for failing to meet a Tuesday night deadline to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The city’s Department of Correction reported 77% of its uniformed staff had gotten at least one vaccine dose as of 5 p.m. Monday, the lowest of any city agency.

Corrections Department Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi said Wednesday morning that about 700 jail workers who’ve applied for religious or medical exemptions can continue to work while their cases are reviewed.

That leaves just under 1,100 uniformed staff who are unvaccinated and could be facing suspension, but Schiraldi said some of those workers are on long-term leave for other reasons and he did not know precisely how many workers were suspended for failing to comply with the mandate.

The deadline for jail workers to be vaccinated was delayed a month because of existing staffing shortages.

Workers who haven’t applied for an exemption and who failed to show proof of vaccination by 5 p.m. Tuesday were to be placed on unpaid leave and surrender any city-issued firearms and protective gear, officials said.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, who already imposed similar mandates for other city workers, said he expects the vaccination rate to rise as workers begin missing paychecks or their requests for an exemption are denied.

“I expect those numbers to up in a very substantial way in the days ahead," de Blasio told reporters at a virtual news conference Wednesday.

In anticipation of the impending mandate, de Blasio on Monday issued an emergency executive order designed to beef up jail staffing by authorizing a switch to 12-hour shifts from the normal 8-hour tours.

The president of the union for jail guards balked at that...