Fake Post Claims Gloucester Cop Died Of Coronavirus, Chief Says

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins is calling a Facebook post that popped up over the weekend claiming an officer had died of new coronavirus “a sick prank” and “despicable.”

Harkins was alerted of the post that appeared in a private Facebook group on Saturday night. The post showed a picture of a Gloucester Township police officer with the headline “First GTPD Officer To Pass Away Due To Covid19.”

However, the officer is doing just fine, Harkins said. After the post was reported to the group’s administrator, it was removed.

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“This appears to be a sick prank against the Gloucester Township community and the Gloucester Township Police Department,” Harkins said. “It is despicable that someone would put a false story out about the death of police officer from COVID-19.”

Harkins pointed out that police officers in Newark, New York City, Chicago, Detroit have died after testing positive for the virus.

“The threat to our Gloucester Township police officers is real,” Harkins said. “I want to take a moment to thank our community members who have showed your support and let us know how much you care. We know this is a cowardly post, and it is not indicative of the community of Gloucester Township.”

The incident happened after a man spit on a Gloucester Township police officer and claimed to have coronavirus and a man attacked police officers responding to a domestic incident.

“Our Officers and their families don’t deserve to be the object of this type of nonsense,” Harkins said. “I will do all in my power to ensure that they and their families are not the subject of a sick prank. They and their families are under enough stress as they go out every day and put themselves in harm’s way to serve our community of Gloucester Township. They don’t need this stress during this time of crisis. I am proud to serve with each and every one of them.”

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