VIRUS claims life of Rutland detective
A Rutland police detective has died from coronavirus, the second officer in Massachusetts to die of the disease.
Detective John D. Songy, 48, of Leicester, died Friday, Rutland Chief Nicholas Monaco posted on the department’s Facebook page.
“John passed away in the early morning hours of May 29, 2020, after a courageous and well-fought battle against the coronavirus. John was an eight-year veteran of the Rutland Police Department and had previously served with the Oakham Police Department,” the chief wrote.
“We wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Detective Songy’s family during this difficult time and we would like to thank the community for the generous outpouring of support that John, his family and the department have received throughout this ordeal,” he added.
Rutland is the geographic center of Massachusetts and is located in Worcester County.
First responders continue to be in the line of danger when it comes to dealing with COVID-19.
Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, president of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police, said Songy was the second police officer in the state to die of the virus, following the death of Boston Officer Jose Fontanez last month.
Of the major city departments — the 40 largest in Massachusetts, plus state troopers — 65 officers are currently out after having tested positive for the highly contagious virus, and another 64 are in quarantine after exposures to it, Kyes said.
Kyes, who’s kept track of the active cases since the start of the spread, said these numbers are down significantly from the peak in late April, when as many as 160 officers were positive and another 200 quarantined at a time.
Nonetheless, Kyes said the fact that first responders are on the front lines means that departments can’t afford to ease up on their precautions.
“We cannot afford to let our guard down,” Kyes said. “We just can’t.”