Calgary police officer tests positive for coronavirus

An officer with the Calgary Police Service has tested positive for COVID-19, the force said Saturday in a news release.

The officer works in a specialty area and has not interacted with the public for several weeks, according to CPS. The individual and their policing partner are both in self-isolation.

“This is something we were prepared for as we know that our employees are not immune to the same risks faced by other members of the community,” the CPS release read.

This is the first officer in Calgary to test positive for the virus. Officers in other Canadian cities, including Vancouver and Toronto, have already been infected.

• See also:
  • Canada’s $73-billion wage subsidy program passes in House of Commons
  • See what the coronavirus curve looks like in Canada right now
  • Alberta sending “surplus” coronavirus medical supplies to other provinces

The force said it notified the public because this is their first officer to be infected. But if any more officers test positive in future, the force said Alberta Health Services will get in touch directly with everyone who had close contact with them.

The police force has many of its members working from home, and is trying to find ways of doing some traditional police work remotely.

“We are working hard to make sure that we are protecting the public and our members through this pandemic,” Chief Const. Mark Neufeld said in the release.

“While the way we respond to calls might look a bit different these days, people need to know they should still call us if they need help. We will be there for them.”