Phoenix Police Leaders Test Positive For COVID-19
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Two top officials within the Phoenix Police Department are now home sick with COVID-19 as the virus’ winter surge continues across Arizona.
Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams has tested positive for the coronavirus and is now quarantining at home. Her Executive Assistant Chief Michael Kurtenbach previously tested positive and plans to return from quarantine next week.
Williams has mild symptoms and has kept working remotely, police spokesman Sgt. Andy Williams said on Friday, adding that police operations haven’t been negatively impacted.
“The Phoenix Police Department is made up of the community, and we're experiencing challenges with COVID-19 just like everyone else. And we're taking the same steps that we recommend everyone else take, which is wearing a mask (and) socially distancing," Williams said. "Just those same protocols that you keep hearing us push out, we are actually practicing those here as well."
Williams said the police department has also adjusted staff schedules to minimize the number of people in the office.
However, KJZZ has learned the Phoenix Police Department has had the highest number of COVID-19 cases among city departments, followed by the Phoenix Fire Department and then Water Services Department. Overall, about 1,400 city employees, or 10% of its total workforce, have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The city of Phoenix follows strict rules when an employee tests positive for COVID-19, and all close contacts have been notified, according to Williams. Assistant Chief Patrick Connolly has taken over as acting chief in Williams and Kurtenbach's absence.
