LIVONIA, Mich. (WXYZ) — The Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy at Schoolcraft College began a temporary shutdown Monday after eight recruits tested positive for COVID-19.
Investigators with the Wayne County Health Department are now working with Schoolcraft College on tracing.
Action News contacted a spokesperson for Schoolcraft College Monday after we received a tip that their police academy was shutting down as a result of the cases of COVID-19.
The police academy is located on Industrial Road near Merriman Road in Livonia.
"Schoolcraft College remains committed to ensuring a safe environment for all students," Van Nguyen, Schoolcraft's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer wrote in a statement to 7 Action News. "After receiving information about confirmed cases of COVID-19 among cadets at our Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy, those students were isolated and will be in quarantine for 14 days. Eight cases have been confirmed. As a precaution, all students in the Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy underwent rapid testing. We are awaiting the results."
Action News also contacted the county's health department Monday, but officials were unable to say when Schoolcraft College notified them about their cases or when they began their investigation and tracing.
"COVID-19 outbreaks are generally defined as two or more cases with a link by place and time indicating a shared exposure outside of a household," according to state health officials.
Wayne County health officials said it's too early to call the cases at the police academy an outbreak.
A county spokesman said that an outbreak is only designated when they cannot determine who was exposed and, because it's a school with a roster, "all contacts are identified."
Two anonymous tipsters have told Action News that there is little to no social distancing or mask usage at the police academy.
In a message sent to Action News last Wednesday, the first tipster indicated that at least two recruits tested positive for COVID-19.
On Schoolcraft College's web page where Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates are posted, there had not been a new update posted in seven weeks until Monday afternoon when the following was added:
Schoolcraft College remains committed to ensuring a safe environment for all students. After receiving information about confirmed cases of COVID-19 among cadets at our Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy, those students were isolated and will be in quarantine for 14 days. Eight cases have been confirmed. As a precaution, all students in the Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy underwent rapid testing. We are awaiting the results.
Out of an abundance of caution, Schoolcraft College is pausing all face-to-face instruction at the Wayne County Regional Police Training Academy until Monday, Nov. 9.
Students will use distance learning formats to complete their coursework during this time. We fully expect this class will graduate on time in November.