NYPD cop calls straphanger a male Karen when asked why he isn’t wearing a mask

A pair of maskless cops inside a subway stop snapped back at a New Yorker who questioned why they weren’t covering their faces — calling the straphanger a “male version of Karen,” a new clip shows.

The back-and-forth comes just days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo tapped the NYPD and MTA police to hand out $50 fines for flaunting the mask mandate on NYC subways.

“Is the fine applied just to me or to you guys too if you don’t wear masks in the subway… I’m just curious?” asked an unnamed man who filmed his exchange and posted the clip Tuesday night.

One of the maskless cops responds, “Actually, it states that as long as you can maintain six feet of distance, you don’t have to wear the mask.”

“If you want to step within six feet of me, I’ll gladly put on the mask,” the cop continues.

But the straphanger points out, the two officers were standing within a few feet of each other — causing the other cop to get annoyed.

“You got nothing better to do… you’re the person that calls someone, ya know, when someone is selling water bottles in the streets… that’s what you are, all right Karen?” he shoots back, appearing annoyed.

“You’re like the male version of Karen, so have a nice day… take care, Karen.”

An NYPD spokesperson said in response to the video, “It’s important officers are reinforcing the best health practices and wearing a mask for their own safety.”

“Officers will continue to set the right example for the public and ensure safe transportation for riders,” they added. “In addition, we are doing spot checks of our officers throughout the system.”

When asked about the video, interim president of the MTA Sarah Feinberg said, “Everyone in the transit system is required to wear a mask – it’s the law – no exceptions.”

“This is a matter of respect for fellow New Yorkers, including our customers and employees, and for public health and safety,” she added.

Police brass have been grilled over the last few months about the noticeable flaunting of the mask mandate among the ranks — despite losing nearly 50 uniformed and civilian members to the pandemic virus.

The issue was renewed last week after Cuomo announced the $50 fine for straphangers who refuse to mask up this week.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, though, brushed off the notion that cops are refusing to wear masks when asked on NY1 on Monday morning.

“It’s something that we stress all the time… I would not agree with one of the statements that you made about them refusing to wear masks,” Shea said.

“Can you get a picture of an officer that takes his mask off? Of course, you can like you can, like with any New Yorker,” he said, claiming the photos were just a moment of officers captured without face coverings.

Shea’s comments came despite numerous candid and staged shots of members of the NYPD without masks on social media — some from the department’s official feeds.

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