Worcester officials investigate claims that police protested officer’s suspension with coordinated ‘sick out’ Updated Feb 17, 2021; The city of Worcester and its police department are investigating allegations that officers coordinated a “sick out” in response to a fellow officer receiving disciplinary measures. The investigation stems from 14 officers calling out sick during the week Police Officer Ryan Joyal was issued a five-day suspension, MassLive learned. The officers who called out worked the same shift as Joyal, MassLive learned. Joyal was given a five-day suspension earlier this month, sources told MassLive at the time the discipline was issued. The discipline stems from a video posted on Facebook in July that showed an officer strike man in a stretcher on Main Street in Worcester.