The Santa Clara County sheriff's department confirms it is investigating threats made to public health officer Dr. Sara Cody, as a number of her peers statewide have resigned their posts in fear for their own safety.
“We’ve seen everything from just general harassment of the public health officials,” said Lori Tremmell Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. “We’ve heard stories of their personal addresses being revealed publicly in public meetings, the names of their families.“
Sheriff’s department officials confirmed to the Mercury News Tuesday that the department is investigating threats against Dr. Cody. She was one of the first in the country, along with other Bay Area leaders, to enact shelter in place orders and has been slower than most in allowing businesses to reopen.
In an interview with the paper Dr. Cody did not comment directly on the threats but did say she and her colleagues are under more criticism. “I try as much as possible to keep my head down,” she said.
Freeman says the threats have been disheartening, and that public health officials are doing their best to serve.
“They have no other agenda, they have no ulterior motives but to keep their communities safe and healthy and it’s just really distressing and disheartening to see this happening,” she said. “I’ve never seen anything like this.“
Much of the anger over shelter in place orders is a reaction to the economic impacts of businesses being forced to close, but Freeman says it is possible to protect public health and maintain a healthy economy at the same time.
