New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea tests positive for coronavirus, official says

New York City Police Commissioner Dermot Shea tested positive for the coronavirus and was running the department from home, a police spokesman said.

The 51 year-old Shea, the city’s 44th police commissioner, was feeling "fine" and was in constant contact with his executive staff, NYPD spokesman Richard Esposito said.

In an internal message to the 35,000 officers under his command, Shea said on Friday he was feeling well and said he hoped to be back in the office soon, a police official said.

Shea , who took over as commissioner inDecember 2019, has been active meeting people in recent months but has taken precautions, Esposito said.

So far this year, 463 officers have tested positive for the virus.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.