Deputies: Greenacres police officer transmitted HIV to others A Greenacres police officer is behind bars after deputies say he knowingly transmitted HIV to women. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT A POLICE OFFICER IN JAILACCUSED OF KNOWINGLY INFECTINGWOMEN WITH HIV.GOOD EVENING.I AM TODD McDERMOTT.LOOKING THROUGH THE POLICEREPORT, LIVE AT THE COUNTY JAIL.Mr. Deptola: THE OFFICERURBAN ST. CLAIR SEVEN-YEAREMPLOYEE DID SPEND TIME IN JAILAFTER A WOMAN CAME FORWARDSAYING SHE WAS INFECTED WITHHIV HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITHTHIS POLICE OFFICER USINGMEDICAL RECORDS INVESTIGATORSWERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THISPOLICE OFFICER KNEW HE HAD THEVIRUS AND DID NOTHING FORPARTNERS.THE GREENACRES POLICE OFFICERWAS HIRED IN 2007, AROUND THATSAME TIME INVESTIGATORS SAY HEBEGAN A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPWITH HIS GIRLFRIEND AND NEVERTOLD HER HE WAS INFECTED WITHHIV.THE NEXT FEW YEARS HE SLEPTWITH AT LEAST TWO OTHER WOMENNEVER TELLING THEM.ON FRIDAY, HE WAS ARRESTED BYPALM BEACH COUNTY DEPUTIESCHARGED WITH CRIMINALLYINFECTING OTHERS WITH THEVIRUS.I AM TOTALLY SURPRISEDCOMING FROM SOMEBODY WHO KNOWSTHE LAW.ESPECIALLY TO KEEP THAT AS ASECRET.Reporter: HIS NEIGHBORS ATTHIS APARTMENT COMPLEX SAY THEOFFICER WAS FRIENDLY BUT FEELTERRIBLE FOR THE VICTIMS MUSTLIVE WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS.IT IS HEARTBREAKING AND ITIS PERMANENT, TO CARRY THAT FORTHE REST OF THEIR LIVES.Reporter: GREENACRES POLICEPLACED THE OFFICER ONADMINISTRATIVE RELIEF.THEY SAY THE STATE DEPARTMENTHAS 111 EMPLOYEES AND A SMALLPERCENTAGE WILL MAKE MISTAKES,SOME CRIMINAL.IT IS A SHAME.THAT HAVE A MORAL AND LEGALOBLIGATION.Reporter: COUNSELORS ATCOMPASS TO PROVIDE HELP TO HIVPATIENTS SAY THERE IS A MORALRESPONSIBILITY TO DISCLOSETHEIR HIV STATUS.THE CAVEAT MANY PEOPLE INFECTEDWITH HIV FEEL ASHAMED AND ASCARED TO BE HONEST BECAUSE OFTHE STIGMA AND WORRIED ABOUTDISCRIMINATION.THAT HAVE BEEN FIRED FORTHEIR HIV STATUS.THEY CANNOT AVOID THE STIGMAASSOCIATED WITH HIV.Reporter: DEPUTIES ALSOBELIEVE THERE COULD BE MOREVICTIMS OUT THERE, WOMEN WHO DONOT KNOW THEY ARE CURRENTLYINFECTED WITH THE VIRUS.COUNSELORS AT COMPASS TOMMY HIVIS TREATABLE.IT IS A CONDITION YOU CANSURVIVE AND LIVE WITH.THEY ARE HOPING PEOPLE WHO HAD

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