I'm an ER Nurse in Seattle. Last night @SeattlePD officers came to the ER to obtain a statement from an assault patient. One officer, Eric Whitehead, blatantly refused to put a mask on while standing in a high-traffic hallway. There were covid positive pts in nearby rooms. 1/

Multiple nurses handed him masks. When I saw he threw them away I asked if there was a problem. Whitehead put his hand in my face and said "Miss, I'm here to do my job and you interrupting me is keeping me from that. If you need to have a conversation about masks it can wait." 2/

(He was not responding to a crime. There were multiple other officers present. He wasn't even speaking with the patient, he was standing in the hallway.) I told him There is no conversation, I just need you to wear a mask. You're putting patients and staff at risk by refusing. 3/

Whitehead ignored me point blank. I escalated to my Charge Nurse. He condescendingly refused her too. Nursing Supervisor got involved and he finally put on mask but stated he would be taking it off in the patient room. 4/

Throughout all this, at least 3 other officers were standing right there. None of them thought to say "Hey man maybe you should just put the mask on." 5/