Macomb County security guard recently died of COVID-19
Macomb County MI Feb 6, 2022
A Macomb County security guard recently died of COVID-19 and a second has been hospitalized for about a month, prompting concern from co-workers.
Gary Sibears, 76, of Macomb Township, died on January 22 and a second officer, a 69-year-old man, was hospitalized with COVID-19 for about a month, according to multiple County Protective Services officers at the courthouse. County Courthouse at Mount Clemens.
“It worries us because a lot of us have underlying conditions because we’re older,” bluecoat Jim Slowinski said. “It became real. It’s a reality check.
Officers, informally known as “Blue Coats”, provide security at the entrances and exits of various county buildings, including the Main Street Courthouse. They monitor customers entering through scanning devices.
The Blue Coats are mostly in their 50s and older, as most of them are retired police officers. They all work part-time, about 16 hours a week.
Several blue coats have complained that their employer, the sheriff’s office, only provides surgical masks, not the more protective N95 masks recommended by many health experts. They think they should be given the next level mask because agents interact with dozens, even 100 or more people every day.
Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said he was unaware of the request and would consider it.
Bluecoat Scott Nobles said Sibears’ death is particularly troubling because he was the most diligent of the courthouse’s group of 16 Bluecoats to protect against the coronavirus.
“He was always aware of wearing a mask,” Nobles said of Sibears.
“He was anal about it,” Slowinski said. “He went on a family outing and apologized to everyone for wearing a mask. But he didn’t want to give it to his wife, Carol. He was so worried about giving it to her.
Slowinski said he remembered Sibears as a “really good guy”. He always had a smile on his face,” he said.
Sibears was one of the longest serving bluecoats, working for 20 years, they said. He retired as a lieutenant from the St. Clair Shores Police Department. He has also worked in other security-related jobs since his retirement.
There are 69 blue coats in all.
