A 62-year-old security officer at a state psychiatric facility who had coronavirus has died, marking the first COVID-19-linked death among members of the union for state corrections and police officers.
William Plantt, a Brooklyn resident who worked at the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center in Manhattan, died on Thursday night, according to a release from the New York State Corrections Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
It was not immediately clear as of Friday where he caught coronavirus, the release states.
Plantt worked as security officer at the facility, which is operated by the state Office of Mental Health.
This week, NYSCOPBA issued a call to OMH and the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to allow staff to wear protective gear to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday, DOCCS announced that its staffers can wear surgical masks at work.
But OMH continues to refuse to provide its employees with equipment or allow them to wear facemasks while they’re on the clock, the union’s release states.
“Like all front line personnel during this pandemic, William came to work every day knowing the risks associated with his job and did so with professionalism and integrity,” John Harmon, the union’s vice president of law enforcement, said in the release. “His death should send a clear message to the commissioner of OMH that all employees need to be provided with PPEs to protect themselves during this crisis.”
OMH did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
