Long Beach Police Police Officer Tests Positive for COVID-19
Dear Neighbor,
The spread of the COVID-19 virus is a serious health and safety concern and everyone needs to take it seriously. As a City we are absolutely working
around the clock to ensure the residents of Long Beach are taken care of and our first responders are day after day the front line of that essential work. However, filling that role puts them uniquely at risk by working closely with those in emergency situations.
Yesterday, the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) was notified that a
police officer tested positive for COVID-19. The total number of confirmed Long Beach cases is
70. The officer involved is a Long Beach resident and his case is included in the updated Long Beach totals.
The officer works in the
West Patrol Division and was tested after exhibiting flu-like symptoms. The employee was directed to self-isolate, and the employee's partner officer was also directed to self-quarantine during the 14-day incubation period. The origin of how the officer contracted the virus is under investigation.
The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services is actively investigating details surrounding these exposures to better identify how to
minimize further risk to the community, as well as other public safety and City personnel. The Police Department will continue to work with the Health Department to assist in their contact investigation. As the investigation progresses, appropriate notifications will be made to employees, community members and other individuals who may have been exposed.
Since learning of these positive test results, the City took the following actions:
Notified additional City employees who may also have been exposed.
Completed a deep cleaning of the West Division facility and designated police cars.
Initiated the Health Department's contact investigations and will be conducting additional testing as needed.
"We were very concerned to hear that one of our officers has tested positive for this virus," said Chief of Police Robert G. Luna. "We have been preparing for this possibility and are working closely with our partners at the Health Department to provide additional information to all of our employees regarding this development."
This news should
not deter the public from calling 9-1-1 when needing emergency assistance.Long Beach Police and Fire Departments continue to take extensive precautions to safeguard community members and other emergency personnel. The City's public safety dispatchers are asking additional COVID-19 screening questions for all calls for service that request or require in-person contact by first responders, personal protective equipment has been distributed to public safety personnel, and modifications to fire and police response operations are being made.
I realize things are changing rapidly and new information and updates are coming out all the time. But, I want to assure you that my office and my team are at your service and will continue to provide any and all assistance we can from both our office at City Hall as well as our Field Office at 340 Nieto Avenue. Please reach out to our office any time as our focus will continue to be providing effective information and responsive assistance for any request.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact my office at (562)570-6300 or by email at [email protected].
