12 Indianapolis police officers, 12 city firefighters test positive for the coronavirus

A dozen Indianapolis police officers, 12 city firefighters and eight other local public safety workers have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Tuesday.

The 12 Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers, 10 of whose cases were reported Tuesday and two others last week, found they had the virus over the course of testing for public safety officials by Eli Lilly, IMPD spokeswoman Aliya Wishner said.

"The officers are self-quarantined at home and being monitored for any progression of symptoms," Wishner said.

So far, Wishner said, 26 other officers have tested negative.

"IMPD will continue to monitor the health of our first responders and will act swiftly when symptoms of the virus are exhibited," Wishner said.

Last Thursday, Wishner said IMPD reported that two officers had tested positive for the virus. The department has more than 1,600 officers.

Additionally, 12 Indianapolis Fire Department firefighters have tested positive for the virus as of Tuesday afternoon, Batallion Chief Rita Reith said.

"Those firefighters are in home quarantine and will not return to work until they have been medically cleared by a doctor," Reith said.

Reith said the quarantine is having no impact on service. IFD has 1,200 firefighters at 43 stations.

Three medics with Indianapolis EMS are in self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, spokesman Brian Van Bokkelen said.

The ambulance service employs 357 paramedics and emergency medical technicians, Van Bokkelen said.

Five Marion County Sheriff's Office employees — three deputies and two civilians — have also tested positive for the virus, spokeswoman Katie Carlson said.

Two of the sick employees worked at the Marion County Jail, but Carlson said no inmates have tested positive and none were being held in isolation with a suspected case.

One Indiana State Police officer tested positive for the virus earlier this month, the department announced March 15. There have been no additional cases among State Police, First Sgt. Ron Galaviz said Tuesday.

Tests have been more available to public safety workers who have symptoms or have come in contact with others who show symptoms since Lilly announced it would offer COVID-19 tests and overnight results March 18.

Wishner urged the public to tell 911 dispatchers when someone in the home is sick. If possible, she said, the public should meet medics and other first responders at the door or on the porch, so they don't have to go inside and risk unnecessary exposure.

"We are doing everything we can to help keep our entire first responder population healthy," Wishner said.

Contact IndyStar reporter Vic Ryckaert at 317-444-2701 or vic.ryckaert@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @VicRyc.