The New York Police Department has suffered its highest-ranking death from the Coronavirus with the passing today of William T. Morris, chief of transportation.
Morris was placed on life support on Tuesday morning and doctors were waiting on his son to arrive before removing him.
Morris, 61, a three-star ranking chief, oversaw traffic and highway patrol and was in charge of the NYPD’s Vision Zero Project, the city’s attempt to minimize traffic fatalities.
Morris had been in close contact with Transit Bureau Chief Edward Delatorre, who later tested positive for the virus but recovered.
"Morris was nervous after his exposure to him. He was nervous when he found out Delatorre was positive,” a source told the Daily Mail.
Morris’ death brings to 31 the number of NYPD service members who have succumbed to COVID-19. In all, 4,435 NYPD members have tested positive and 2,342 have recovered and returned to work, the Daily Mail reports. NYPD members will wear black bands on their badges and police station flags will be lowered to half-mast.
The Commissioner announced last week that all members of the NYPD will wear black bands across their shields to remember those who have died.
All NYPD, New York City and American flags will also be lowered to half-mast at police facilities. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said, adding, “This unprecedented crisis has already taken a significant toll on our NYPD family.
'We do not know how long it will last, so we will continue to honor our colleagues in this way for the foreseeable future,” the Daily Mail reported.
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