Columbia police take extra precautions during COVID-19
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Officers at the Columbia Police Department are working to protect themselves and the public as the number of cases of COVID-19 continues to rise in Missouri and Boone County.
The police department posted a video Monday showing what officers are wearing while responding to certain calls and telling people not to be alarmed if they see an officer wearing personal protective equipment.
Some of the equipment officers may be seen wearing include N95 masks, safety goggles and latex gloves.
Officers have also begun wearing protective equipment to calls where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 or if they believe there is an increased risk for exposure to the virus.
That equipment includes a full body suit, latex gloves and a full-face respirator.
Police Chief Geoff Jones said the department has had to change some of its operations.
"It's been really important not to have face-to-face contact in those instances where we really don't need to have face-to-face contact, so we've changed how we've responded to a lot of calls," he said.
Jones said the department has pushed people to report things online if they can. He said in instances where there is no suspect description or no evidence to collect the department can take those types of reports over the phone.
"We're going to be creative. We're going to try to find ways to communicate and not do it in person," he said.
Jones said each officer has their own protective equipment, but the department could run out of face masks.
"We have enough for each officer to have some and we have some spares, but we will quickly run out if we have more community spread or we have more contact or we have to change those masks out," he said.
The department is on the waiting list to receive more from the state and is looking at other vendors as well.
Jones said the virus has already had an impact on the department.
"We've had officers out on military leave and family leave which is typical for us, but we've also had officers who have been concerned about being exposed or have had contact with individuals where we've had to have them stay out for a couple of days from work as we evaluate that," he said. "Right now it's not a huge problem but we're prepared and have a plan in place if that does become a problem."
Officers currently work in 10-hour shifts, and several shifts overlap each other. He said if the department has lower staffing levels than what can support each shift, they will go to 12-hour shifts.
