BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Monday, the Bakersfield Police Department said it has lost one of its detectives to Valley Fever.
In a Facebook post, the KLEA shared that their brother, BPD Detective Kevin Hock, passed away due to the disease on Sunday.
BPD confirmed that Det. Hock was actively working in the department up until his medical emergency this past weekend.
The non-profit, The Thin Line Foundation, has also announced that it will be organizing a vigil for Detective Hock in front of BPD's downtown station at 8 p.m. Monday. Candles will be provided, according to the event FB page.
According to Kern County Public Health Services, this is the fourth consecutive year of Valley Fever increase in Kern County, most of them affecting 25 to 64 year old's.
Kern County Public Health Services says there was a seven percent increase in Valley Fever cases last year, the most since 1992.
