According to the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) of the City of New York, at least one police officer had consumed a drink that reportedly contained bleach.
PBA is the largest police union representing police officers of the New York Police Department. On June 15, they claimed officers consumed beverages with a toxic substance in them, Daily Wire reports.
Furthermore, as PIX11 News reveals, several police officers assigned to a protest detail drank the toxic drinks at a Shake Shack in Manhattan. After consuming the poisonous beverages, the officers were hospitalized. The incident happened at a Shake Shack near Broadway and Fulton on Monday. Luckily, the policemen are expected to recover.
In an official statement, pat Lynch, PBA’s president, said:
“I am writing to alert you to yet another serious safety issue. This evening, several MOS [member of service] assigned to a protest detail in lower Manhattan took a meal at the Shake Shack location on Broadway and Fulton Street. At some point during their meal period, the MOS discovered that a toxic substance, believed to be bleach, had been placed in their beverages. The contamination was not discovered until the MOS had already ingested a portion of their beverages. They are currently at the hospital receiving treatment and are expected to recover.”
#BREAKING When NYC police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level. We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment. pic.twitter.com/fbMMDOKqbV
— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) June 16, 2020
Mr. Lynch claimed that all PBA members are warned to be cautious and to inspect all the food items they buy for possible toxicity, especially while on duty.
Moreover, he advises officers to have their meals in groups and to remain vigilant during periods such as lunch breaks. The PBA president continues:
“When New York City police officers cannot even take meal without coming under attack, it is clear that environment in which we work has deteriorated to a critical level. We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment. As always, look out for each other and remember our primary mission: everyone goes home EOT.”
Shake Shack said they are currently working with police in the investigation. Additionally, in a Twitter post, the company said:
We are horrified by the reports of police officers injured at our 200 Broadway Shack in Manhattan. We are working with the police in their investigation right now.
— SHAKE SHACK (@shakeshack) June 16, 2020