Local police and RCMP response during COVID-19

Calls for service have even been down a little bit.

He says some officers are taking the necessary precautions and staying home if they are sick. While officers who have recently travelled are self-isolating.

But McGrogan says Medicine Hat Police have a full complement of officers to patrol the city and they don’t see that changing.

“Re-focused our energy for our patrol guys on the street, they’re going to be taking a lot of the priority one calls that are more public safety-related and more immediate. And then we got a call centre with a bunch of police officers in it that are taking a lot of calls over the phone and kind of triaging if we want to call it that. So far it’s working really good, it’s been quiet actually which is really excellent.”

Meantime, Redcliff RCMP S/Sgt. Sean Maxwell says the detachment also locked their office doors but are still taking calls.

And currently, they are not fingerprinting members of the public.

But he says don’t hesitate to call if it’s an urgent situation with regards to fingerprinting because it could be done on a case by case basis.

As for enforcing self-isolation to the public, he said that’s not up to RCMP.

“Basically we would have to look to Alberta Health Services, that sort of thing. There are orders in place that doctors can make on individual people, but in general, we’re just trying to be safe out there you know, keep distancing where necessary and if we’re dealing with somebody who might be contagious or have it (COVID-19), we would have those conversations with those people about getting them to isolate themselves or get into a hospital.”

Medicine Hat Police also say they are receiving calls of fraud relating to COVID-19 scams.

Residents are reminded to be extra careful and do not give out any personal information.

by Chantal Wagner

Local police and RCMP response during COVID-19

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