Phoenix police officer tests positive for COVID-19

Three Phoenix employees have tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to an aviation employee who died of the disease last week, according to an email to Phoenix employees.

Two of the employees who tested positive were also part of the city’s aviation department.

City spokeswoman Julie Watters would not say whether the employees had contact with the man who died.

She said both of the aviation employees are in “public facing positions” and are now following city and county health guidelines to remain at home.

Both employees have been away from their city offices for several days: one since mid-March and the other since last week.

The other employee is a Phoenix police officer.

The officer had been on vacation and developed symptoms. He has not been at work for more than two weeks, Watters said.

Phoenix police didn’t identify the officer and referred all questions to the city’s communication office.

Police Chief Jeri Williams confirmed that the officer tested positive for COVID-19 on a KTAR (92.3 FM) radio show on Thursday morning. Williams said the officer developed symptoms after returning from vacation and did not return to work.

She also said an unspecified number of officers have self-quarantined because they had returned from vacation in certain places.

“I know there is some angst out there among the law enforcement community because no one wants to be sick. We want to be able to continue to do our jobs and provide a service to the public,” Williams said.

Watters said the city will notify employees who are known to have been in close contact with the employees who tested positive.