Three Sarasota police patrol officers test positive for the novel coronavirus
Three Sarasota police officers have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Sarasota Police Department announced Thursday.
All three are patrol officers and are the first cases the department has had. They are each currently at home under quarantine, according to the department.
“COVID-19 protocols remain in place at the Sarasota Police Department. Chief Bernadette DiPino is encouraging all citizens to wear masks in public, social distance and wash their hands,” the department’s statement to news outlets said. “These actions could prevent citizens and Sarasota Police officers from contracting COVID-19.”
The department will not provide additional details, including when the officers were last on duty, first started showing symptoms or tested positive for the virus.
In Manatee County, two members of the Bradenton Police Department and five members of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office have recently tested positive.
As of Thursday afternoon, neither department had any additional positive cases,, according to spokesmen for each department. These recent cases are not the first for the Bradenton Police Department or the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Palmetto, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key police department have not had any confirmed cases of coronavirus among their officers or civilian staffers.
Holmes Beach police officers will be required to wear masks whenever social distancing is not possible, according to Chief of Police William Tokajer, after the city passed an ordinance requiring people to wear masks when inside of businesses and public buildings.
No other law enforcement agency in the county has made it mandatory for officers to wear masks.
This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 12:19 PM.
