Perryville police adopt new pandemic protocols

Posted

Perryville residents may notice a difference in how police officers respond to certain situations — at least for the time being.
According to a news release issued by the Perryville Police Department on Friday, Chief Direk Hunt made the decision to have officers follow federally suggested modified protocols for officers responding to emergency medical calls and what are described as "low-level calls" during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Along with other law enforcement departments across the country who are all modifying their response, we are struggling to find the balance of still being a proactive presence during this pandemic and keeping our staff safe," Hunt said. "Our officers will continue to patrol our community, but we will have to modify our response to certain calls for service.”
Officers will still respond to active “in progress” calls such as assaults, robberies and the like, said department spokesman Cpl. Jeri Cain, but calls regarding lesser matters, such as "when someone breaks in to a car and there's nothing missing but change" may not see an officer dispatched.
"Non-injury private property accidents will not warrant an officer’s response at this time," Cain said.
As for emergency medical calls, Cain said officers will be following the suggested guidelines for law enforcement officers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which include modified caller queries from dispatchers and the use of personal protective equipment when dealing with persons who may be or may become infected.

The CDC advises that, if they must respond to an emergency medical call, officers have a trained emergency medical service/emergency medical technician assess and transport anyone they think might have COVID-19 to a healthcare facility and to ensure only trained personnel wearing appropriate personal protective equipment have contact with individuals who have or may have COVID-19.
On Wednesday, Missouri experienced its first death from the COVID-19 virus when a Boone County man, who had tested positive the day before, was transported to University Hospital in Columbia, where he later died. Six emergency responders who were involved in the case are being quarantined.
The new protocols, Cain said, will help to keep police officers on the street instead of in quarantine and also help prevent officers from unwittingly spreading the virus.
Non-emergency and business calls for service will be taken over the phone at 573-547-4546. In the case of minor accidents, callers will be directed to exchange insurance information with the other vehicle owner.
City residents are also asked to refrain from traveling to the police department and instead make every attempt to report any incident via telephone at 573-547-4546. In addition, the department has cancelled all civic meetings, public programs, and department tours until further notice.
"The Perryville Police Department will strive to continue to function at its same high standard of service," Cain said. "These modified protocols are in place to protect our officers so that they may continue to serve this community without interruption, and they are also in place to protect the public. In addition, these modifications will help effectively diminish the spread of COVID-19 throughout the community."