Entire Sunland Park police force quarantined due to virus case

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico -- All 20 officers of the Sunland Park Police Department have been quarantined at home after one of them tested positive for the coronavirus, the mayor told ABC-7 on Friday.

Mayor Javier Perea said the city has asked the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office and the New Mexico State Police for assistance until they can get test results back from the health department on the entire police force.

Because the police department is so small, Perea said one exposure poses a huge risk.

"The last thing we want to do is have one of our officers to spread the virus to the entire community," he said.

But the mayor emphasized that residents should not hesitate to call 911 if there's an emergency.