LEBANON, Ind. (WTHR) – Outside Lebanon’s police headquarters, all the detectives’ reserved parking spaces are empty because all five of them are self-quarantined at home and recovering from COVID-19.
“Fortunately for them all the symptoms have been very mild and one had no symptoms whatsoever,” Sgt. Justin Fuston said.
Unfortunately, Fuston explained that the virus has sidelined the small department’s entire investigations branch.
“It has definitely slowed things down,” Fuston said.
Lebanon PD is making do. Home-bound detectives are reviewing reports filed patrol officers. A former detective is working cases again.
According to Fuston, the first two detectives tested positive in mid-May and three others about a week later.
“We have no clue when the initial contact could have been,” Fuston said.
The officers, four men and a woman, are among Boone County’s 318 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Although that is a relatively small number, public health officials in Boone County are concerned by what they see as a spike in people infected by COVID-19.
17 new cases in the last four days come on top of 14 new cases in just 48 hours last week.
“COVID from the get go, has shown us things can change at the drop of a hat,” Boone County Health Department representative Claire Haughton said.
Haughton went on to explain that they can’t determine whether the increases are the result of additional testing for the virus or a decrease in social distancing.
“That would cause people to be outside, caution to the wind," Haughton said. "The weather is nice and hot masks are not super comfortable in the heat.”
Public health officials are preaching vigilance while a police department waits for officers to get healthy.
Two could return in a day or two if a second round of COVID-19 tests come back with negative results.