Cop staffing nearly back to normal

After weeks of being ravaged by coronavirus, the number of NYPD cops out sick is back under 3% – which was about the normal rate before the pandemic.

“That is very good news,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said on a live Twitter feed directed toward his officers Thursday. “It is allowing us to focus on the next phase, what is going to happen a month from now or three months from now.”

At the height of the pandemic, nearly 20% of the department’s workforce was out sick and 5,691 members tested positive for coronavirus.

As of Thursday, 42 employees have died from coronavirus complications, including five detectives and a police officer, officials said.

Shea said that he has moved about 250 cops to the NYPD’s Summer All Out posts, which will bulk up patrols in communities that traditionally see an uptick in crime and violence during the summer months.

“They are going to be out there keeping New Yorkers safe, talking to New Yorkers and making sure they don’t have to deal with the gunfire and other things of that nature that unfortunately we see during this time of the year,” Shea said.

Cops will also be out on the beaches this Memorial Day weekend, to both keep the peace and make sure people abide by social-distancing rules.

“We’re going to be out there and giving out masks and make sure that people can go out and enjoy a little sunshine,” he said.

“It will be a big difference, making sure people get a little sense of normalcy.”

On the Coney Island Boardwalk on Thursday afternoon, Assistant Chief Brian Conroy said police don’t anticipate issuing summonses for social-distancing violations.

“However, we do enforce criminal violations,” he said.

Swimming is not allowed at Coney Island and other city beaches, though visitors will be able to go in about ankle deep.

Surfing, especially popular in the Rockaways, will be allowed off city beaches, Conroy said.