Libby police chief contracts COVID-19

Libby Chief of Police Scott Kessel has taken ill with COVID-19.

The lawman told Libby City Council on Nov. 2 that he was working from home as he convalesced from the disease. He expected to be cleared to leave home by Nov. 4.

“I’ve been sitting at home, cooling my heels since 15 October,” Kessel told city council. “I’ve been doing a lot of work from home, keeping up with what’s been going on.”

Asked about the severity of his illness by City Councilor Kristin Smith, Kessel described his symptoms as “moderate.”

The coronavirus already has struck the Libby Police Department. Kessel reported in September that an officer had contracted the virus, but that individual had little close contact with his colleagues. At the time, Kessel said he was working with other law enforcement agencies in the area for mutual support if it was deemed necessary.

Mayor Brent Teske extended his wishes for a speedy recovery.

“Get well soon,” Teske said. “We miss you.”

Kessel updated the city council on his health as he delivered his report for the month of October. Service calls had gone up from 233 to 266 from this time last year, he said.

Arrests, though, had declined from 23 in October 2019 to eight this year. Kessel said the difference likely owed to authorities limiting occupancy at the Lincoln County Detention Center.

Looking over the statistics, Kessel noted a bump in disturbance, harassment and intimidation service calls.

“I think people are starting to get a little cabin fever,” he said.