NY Police Caught Throwing Waste From Ebola Scene Into Public Trash Can

Police officers tasked with working the scene around the Manhattan apartment of Dr. Craig Spencer, diagnosed with Ebola yesterday, were caught on camera tossing the gloves and masks they used for their protection into public trash cans.

One video (above via the Daily Mail) shows two police officers discarding first the crime scene tape used to block off the potentially infected area, then removing their protective gloves and masks and tossing them into an open-top public waste bin.

The video does not show whether or not the officers had entered Spencer’s apartment. 

I am fairly certain public trash cans aren't in the procedures and protocol handouts.


At least they weren't spotted using a power washer.

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a reply to: DancedWithWolves

While it's unlikely for anyone to catch it from this it's still possible.. Completely careless of them!

I feel sorry for a homeless person who might dig through that can... imagine if they got infected? we'd never know until they are dead on the sidewalk somewhere.

a reply to: DancedWithWolves

The thing, is these guys were working the perimeter, and most probably didn't come withing the Ebola virus' range at all. BUT, this does nothing to quell they hyper fear that the media seems to be promoting as an agenda!

But they certainly weren't trained in or didn't care about protocol, and that's a very scary prospect!

Further, not only are people scared of catching the virus from walking by the trash can, what about wanna be domestic terrorist who thinks they can grab some virus laden protective gear and expose whomever they wish!

Of course these fears of this trash can's contents spreading Ebola is nil! But it reeks of a conspiracy of a US pandemic of fear and false info!

They were either far enough away from the site and had no risk, which begs the question of why they were wearing masks and gloves.

Or, they were in close proximity to potentially infected materials and should not have carelessly discarded their protective equipment in a public trash can.

In either case, this results in "poor optics".

a reply to: DancedWithWolves

Fear not, the ebola czar will be all over this!

Oh yeah, keep checking that ebolacaredotcom website. It should be up soon.

a reply to: DancedWithWolves

It is possible they were nothing but the outer perimeter and weren't exposed to anything...but if they were inside or exposed and some homeless guy goes rummaging through the trash...oh man!

If not the trash can, where else are they supposed to dispose of it? Not like they can take it in their squad car or burn it. I suppose they could have put it somewhere less public at the very least.

I am stunned that the police handled this waste in such an ignorant way. You would think people in these positions would educate themselves about such matters knowing what they might come in contact with.

uhhhh regardless if it was contagious or not.....

Isnt it normal procedure to dispose of anything that had possible contact with bodily fluids by EMTs, Firefighters, or Police to be disposed in at least a biohazard bag?

originally posted by: Septimus
If not the trash can, where else are they supposed to dispose of it? Not like they can take it in their squad car or burn it. I suppose they could have put it somewhere less public at the very least.

"at the very least."

If they felt they could put into a public waste can, then they should have no problem putting it in plastic bags, contacting a hospital to meet them so as to have them Dispose of it in a way that meets safety protocols.

At the very least they should use their grey matter.

Peace

If they were instructed to protect themselves with gloves and masks --- then they need to follow through their protocol accordinly.

That means taking the same care of their wastes (gloves, masks, shoe sleeves, door blankets etc...) the same way they would an infected area.

Their supervisor should have had the common sense to understand this and to instruct his team to follow through with the type of protocol that involves a could-be infected area.

Is the media gonna make a mountain out of a molehill? Absolutely - at the drop of a hat! But either way, these officers should have been instructed on what to do with their cleanup --- simple as that!

Trains, taxis and now trash cans. Authorities have got to be more diligent. An on the scene biohazard collection bag would seem to be a no-brainer.

This doctor, at a minimum, should have been less mobile. Especially since he didn't feel well Wednesday evening, but still went bowling???

He told health authorities that began to experience fatigue on Wednesday night, but was otherwise feeling well.

New York Ebola patient's movements tracked to trains, taxis and the High Line

But at some point between returning home from Guinea and experiencing symptoms, officials said, Spencer took a three-mile jog, despite being on a self-imposed limited-contact regime.

Certainly, it seems likely that he thought he was in the clear by Wednesday evening, when he decided to go with friends to Gutter, a bowling alley in Williamsburg.

He did, authorities confirmed at a press conference on Thursday, bowl.

During the day on Wednesday, he may have walked on the High Line – a popular tourist attraction on the west side of Manhattan built on a former elevated railway – and may have also eaten at a restaurant near there, according to officials.

It is known for sure that he travelled on three subway lines – the 1-train, the A-train and the L-train – as well as an Uber taxi. Epidemiologists were using information gathered from Spencer’s New York Metrocard – which records the entry points to subway journeys – and his credit cards, to determine his movements around the city.

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One word- protocol...protocol...protocol. Look, I know the media has blown this out of proportion, but regardless of whether they were in the apartment or if they had even a 1% chance of coming into contact with the virus, its not very smart to potentially escalate the situation by failing to properly dispose of potentially hazardous material. Not following some perceived unimportant protocol is likely how these doctors and nurses have been infected, and as a result, expose others who were nowhere around the disease. I am not going to pretend it is a big deal at this point, but jesus, let's at least be competent when dealing with a potential threat of this magnitude.

And then the homeless pick through the can for lunch or useful items. Get smeared with Ebola, panhandle then join 40 other homeless individuals sleeping in an abandoned warehouse. Coughing, sharing air, sneezing, no sanitation.

Do they even think? I know the answer to it already but once again Do they even think??

a reply to: miniatus

Nothing to see here...move along citizen.

"We are fully prepared to handle Ebola," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference today a day after it was announced that Dr. Craig Spencer was admitted to Bellevue Hospital with a diagnosis of the lethal virus.

De Blasio said the city's emergency system has "planned for the crisis... That's why we've been ahead of the game."

Gives you a warm feeling inside doesn't it? How prepared we all are? Oh wait...

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originally posted by: DancedWithWolves

... I am fairly certain public trash cans aren't in the procedures and protocol handouts. ...

I am fairly certain that working the scene of a confirmed Ebola infection with nothing more that a paper face mask and a pair of over-the-counter latex gloves isn't in the procedures and protocol handouts, either.

And look at how they're handling the waste from his apartment. Anyone believe this will be disposed of properly?