Five members of the NYPD’s elite Bomb Squad are suing the city for $75 million, claiming their careers were ended by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The officers, all with decades of experience, said they’ve lost out on a “full pension, with annual interest, and health benefits” after they were fired in 2022 for refusing to get the jab.
The city lifted its vaccine mandate for employees in February, but the five men — Detectives Paul McCartney, a US Marine with 17 years on the job; Jean Pierre Sylvestre, a US Marine veteran who’s worked 20 years at the NYPD; Joseph Trancho, who worked there 18 years; Sgt. Craig Collopy, who served 27 years; and Lt. Christopher Eckert, who also had 20 years — have so far not reapplied for their posts.
The mandate was blasted by workers who said it was unfair, and it’s been the subject of numerous lawsuits.
About 1,780 workers were fired for refusing to get vaccinated.
The Bomb Squad officers “paid a heavy price for refusing compulsory vaccination, while every other unvaccinated person paid no price at all,” they said in their Brooklyn Federal Court lawsuit against the city, Mayor Adams and then city Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi.
The alleged injustice became a slap in the face in March 2022, when Adams created an “elite” exemption for athletes such as unvaccinated superstar NBA player Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets — and when it became clear that the vaccine didn’t stop the transmission of the virus, the men said in court papers.
“These guys were climbing all the way up the ladder and Adams just kicked them down for nothing,” said attorney Chad Levaglia, who represents the officers. “The biggest and most important difference between this lawsuit and any others is we’re directly challenging the efficacy of this vaccine, we’re saying, ‘This didn’t work and you knew it, Adams.'”
The city Health Department contends its vaccination campaign prevented 48,000 deaths, more than 300,000 hospitalizations, and 1.9 million COVID-19 cases.
“Courts have repeatedly upheld city’s vaccine mandate as lawful. We’ll review the specifics of this case once served,” a Law Department spokesman told The Post.