Dear COBA Members;

Every Law Enforcement Union in New York learned valuable lessons in the aftermath of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks with regard to the documentation of job duties, medical records, exposure etc. What we learned first and foremost was that most of our Departments and certainly many of our members don't keep or archive accurate records when a crisis level event occurs.  

I have advised our members time and time again about keeping copies of numerous types of documents that you generate in the course of your employment as a Correction Officer. From Time and Leave records to Use of Force Reports, Witness Reports, Incident Reports and so on. I recommend keeping everything in a safe place because you never know when you might need to reference something or prove your actions in any particular incident at some time in the future. This Coronavirus is no different and documentation is always the key component.  

Although the Coronavirus is much different from the 9/11 Attacks, the need to keep accurate records and documentation of events is just as important. Particularly given that many things that are going today are unprecedented.  

In short, if you put your name on something, keep a copy for yourself. If you prepare an Exposure Form or any other document like a To/From related to the Coronavirus, keep a copy for yourself.

I'm also going to recommend that you forward a copy of any such paperwork related to the Coronavirus (Exposure Forms etc.) to the Union so that we may keep a Master File of all things Coronavirus related. This in case some future issue should arise that we're not contemplating today and we need to prove something for you through such documentation.  

You can scan and email any such docs to NCSCOBA@AOL.COM

or Fax it to us at 516-822-8726, or you can drop it off at the Union Office.

Be Smart, Stay Safe, Take Universal Precautions.  

In Unity;

Brian Sullivan, COBA President