An Evans City-Seven Fields police officer who provided support at the June 19 Black Lives Matter protest in Cranberry Township is reported to have tested positive for COVID-19.

The following Sunday, June 21, the officer reported experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and later tested positive for the illness, according to three people with knowledge of the situation.

According to reports, the officer's illness resulted in the self-quarantining of five officers in the Zelienople Police Department.

Zelienople police Chief Jim Miller said at Monday's borough council meeting that three officers had been exposed to the virus and came to work before being informed of their exposure, although he did not identify the source of their exposure.

The three individuals confirmed it was the June 19 demonstration at which the three officers were exposed to the Seven Fields officer. The individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the media on the subject.

Cranberry police Sgt. Chuck Mascellino estimated on June 19 that about 200 people participated in the protest.

Evans City-Seven Fields Regional Police administrator Tom Smith said the department was considering the officer's illness a “personnel issue” and cited HIPAA, the federal health-privacy law, to state the department would not confirm or deny the report.

Jerry Andree, Cranberry Township manager, and Jackson Township police Chief Terry Seilhamer said their departments were asked to take over calls for Evans City-Seven Fields for the span of about one eight-hour shift early last week. Seilhamer said the Jackson department responded to just one call during that time.

Smith confirmed the department asked for assistance during an eight-hour period, saying they were seeking protocol for COVID-19 safety from the state during that time.

“It was precautionary until we got the guidelines as to how to safely proceed with our officers dealing with the public and themselves,” Smith said.

Andree said none of the Cranberry officers were exposed to the virus at the June 19 protest as they were physically distancing, and Jackson Township police were not present. Smith said none of the other departments that were at the demonstration have inquired as to the Seven Fields officer's health.

“I have no knowledge of any other law enforcement agencies whatsoever that have reached out to us with any other health concerns,” Smith said.

Four of the five Zelienople officers were quickly tested for COVID-19, Miller said, while one refused to be tested. While none of the four tested positive, the officers will continue quarantining until Friday, he added. The quarantines were a voluntary measure by the department.

“We were proactive and got testing done right away and followed doctor's instructions,” Miller said in an interview.

Andree said reports of the officer's illness made township employees more compliant with pandemic safety guidelines.

“Whenever you have a report of a potential COVID-positive employee, it makes people sit back and pay attention to the safety protocols,” he said.

While other police departments were informed of the ill officer — whether it was framed as a presumed or confirmed positive — there is no evidence that others at the protest were informed.

Jackie Campbell, communications director for the Western Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, said the Rev. Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, one of the protesters, had not been told an officer at the demonstration had COVID-19 or its symptoms.

The officer's diagnosis comes as new coronavirus cases, both in the state and in Butler County, are on the rise. According to the state Department of Health, the county has seen 23 more cases of COVID-19 in the past seven days than in the prior week, with 16.5 per 100,000 residents testing positive for the virus in the past seven days.