DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida town has placed its police chief on leave after officers alleged he said a deputy died of the coronavirus because he was a “homosexual who attended homosexual" events.

The Fraternal Order of Police said Davie Chief Dale Engle made the comments after officers expressed concerns about their safety following the death of Broward County Sheriff's Deputy Shannon Bennett.

The union says Engle responded by saying Bennett got the disease because he attended gay sexual events. Engle later said in an email to his staff that his statements were not meant to be derogatory.