Saturday at 6:15 p.m. update
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said seven members of the department have tested positive for COVID-19 and another 196 are under quarantine.
With now a total of 196 officers quarantined and 7 members diagnosed with COVID-19. Conducting a virtual swearing in ceremony is a testament of the uncertain times we are facing. Class 2020C is joining the ranks of some of the best in our profession. https://t.co/CI6kuZ6ckh
— James E. Craig (@ChiefJECraigDPD) March 21, 2020
Original story below
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said five members of the department and one civilian contractor have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the chief, there are also 152 members of the department under quarantine. Of that number, 130 were ordered to quarantine by the department, and 22 of those are self-quarantining, meaning their private doctor told them to quarantine.
Related: Detroit Police change how they work to prevent spread of Covid-19
Craig said he expects those numbers to change, as two officers had tested positive on Thursday.
"It’s certainly a cause for concern. I can tell you that our services at this point will not change," Craig said to the media on Friday afternoon.
As of Friday, 549 people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19 with three deaths reported.
The chief said he has told officers when they respond to non-critical calls, take extra precautions. For example, they might ask the public to talk to them outside a building at a distance of about 6-feet away to gather information, if it is not an emergency situation.
They will still be arresting criminals who commit high misdemeanors such as sex crimes or domestic violence and felonies. However for lesser crimes, officers have discretion for safety purposes to relax enforcement.
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