COLLEGE STATION, Texas — To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, even the local law enforcement is seeing minor changes in how they carry out their duties.
Both Bryan and College Station Police Departments have modified their protocols in handling situations in the community during this time.
Officer Tristan Lopez from College Station PD urges the community to call dispatch if you need to contact the police department. “If you’re calling to report an in-progress emergency then the officers will have someone respond to that. If it’s not in progress, if it doesn’t demand immediate reaction, then maybe it’s something where you can talk to the officer over the phone. You can do an online form as well," said Officer Tristan Lopez.
Patrol officers are still out and about ensuring the safety of people that live in Bryan-College Station. Employees who show signs of illness are sent home immediately.
“Our temporarily modified response plan lists protocol procedures which are aligned with industry practices for best safety. In addition to these measures, we continue to limit contact between employees and reduce any sharing of employee equipment, and despite these measures and safety precautions, the department will continue to provide essential services to the community and respond to emergencies," said Lopez.
With shelter-in-place orders, CSPD says it is taking an educational approach to make sure people are being smart.
“If people continue to not do the right thing and the violation is flagrant enough it is a place where we will take enforcement action," Lopez said.
Officers at both police departments are all practicing extra sanitation measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Two College Station police officers currently remain in isolation out of precaution, and three officers from Bryan PD tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in April, but have not seen any new cases since.
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