Role of Police Department in Containing the Spread of Coronavirus

With the global number of confirmed positive cases being well over a million now, the coronavirus pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down, and the virus continues to impact all aspects of our lives. While healthcare professionals across the country being deservedly lauded for their heroic efforts in the battle against COVID-19, the pivotal role being played by law enforcement agencies has somewhat taken a backseat.

However, it’s important to note that police departments all over the countries are critical players in containing the spread of the extremely contagious virus.

Enforcing Social Distancing Laws

As governments scramble to protect their citizens from COVID-19, almost every state has prohibited public gatherings and imposed social distancing laws. And it’s the police departments who have been tasked to enforce these critical measures. They’re responsible for ensuring that no public gatherings are formed anywhere and ensuring that people don’t leave the safety of their homes after curfew.

This new responsibility means that, over the last few weeks, American policing has undergone a radical transformation, with police officers being forced to drop their routines and adopt innovative practices to keep millions in check, while protecting themselves and others. These include leaving medical calls to ambulance services and the fire departments, by moving to all non-emergency reports phone-only, by issuing summonses and tickets instead of making arrests for non-serious offenses, by relaxing the enforcement of traffic regulations, and by avoiding going into buildings and homes.

An Unrelenting, Invisible Enemy

With social distancing being the only viable way (as of yet) of slowing the spread of the virus, police departments across the country are faced with the gigantic task of ensuring that laws and regulations imposed to mitigate the spread of the virus are carried out. With Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) being short on supply, police departments around the country have started to sustain damages.

For instance, in New York alone, more than 1,400 members of the NYPD have tested positive for COVID-19. In Detroit, MI, on the other hand, 91 officers, including the Chief of Police have tested positive, with another 525 being quarantined.

But despite these alarming numbers, these brave men and women continue to disregard personal safety in favor of their civil duty. They continue to soldier on this battle against an invisible, unrelenting enemy.

If you’ve registered for the Suffolk County police exam, Civil Service Success offers online classes that can help you prepare for success! You can register for their Suffolk County police classes here.