The number of Memphis police officers out on sick leave continues to decline, reports the Commercial Appeal. The number fell to 499 Thursday afternoon, according to the Memphis Police Department, down from a high of 557 on Tuesday.
The number of officers out as part of a "blue flu" protesting benefits cuts now makes up 22.5 percent of the 2,218 officers employed by MPD.
Sixty-one firefighters were out sick as of Thursday morning.