HAMPDEN - A sergeant with the Hampden Police Department has been in the hospital for more than two weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.

Sgt. Bill Joy served the department for 40 years before retiring but he’s since returned to the department to work part time. 

"You know he loves the job so much he wanted to stay,” said Hampden Police Chief Jeff Farnsworth. “So he's been employed with us for almost 42 years."

Joy is a life long Hampden resident who is very well-known and loved in the community. 

"Just one of the most committed public servants you're going to find,” said Farnsworth. 

In a Facebook post from Hampden Police they shared a message from Joy’s daughter [see below] that read: “My dad is currently in the fight of his life battling this COVID-19 viral infection."

The post went on to say, "You’d think he probably had been in more dangerous situations in his 40+ years as a police officer, but I assure you this has been the worst.”

"He is now recently in ICU and in very serious condition,” Farnsworth said. 

According to the Facebook post, Sgt. Joy’s family said he has a very rare autoimmune disease and had taken every preventive step to stay healthy and social distance. 

He did not contract the virus during his work with the department. 

"It was tracked down. It was actually through a doctors visit, that he contracted it in a medical office,” said Farnsworth. 

Joy’s family say he isn't able to talk much because he’s hooked up to a ventilator and had pneumonia in both lungs, but they say Joy is a fighter. 

"It is never easy for anyone to deal with something like this, but you know with a friend, a coworker, being so ill is definitely disconcerning to us all,” said Farnsworth. 

Farnsworth added that he and everyone else at the department are wishing the best for Joy and his family during this time.