Delray Beach Police Chief Javaro Sims says COVID-19 has hit his department.
"We've had approximately 40 guys test positive unfortunately, but we're also able to get them the assistance that they need to get better as well."
He says the forty includes both officers and support staff, but it does lead to more people being down at one time because of contact tracing.
"One person could mean you might lose five people for a period of time."
Chief Sims says that out of 166 officers, he had as many as 17 off the streets at any given time due to coronavirus concerns. This is despite a mandatory mask-wearing requirement on the job.
Sims believes it's what his younger officers are doing when they're not at work that could be putting them at risk.
Photo: Getty Images