According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), social distancing is believed to be one of the most effective methods of preventing the spread of COVID-19. In an effort to prevent the introduction and/or the spread of the virus, and to ensure the safety of our community and our employees, the Hope Police Department is following CDC guidelines, and we have implemented the following temporary plan:
• Calls that require a police report only involving no immediate threat to life or property will be taken via telephone.
• Our Telecommunications Center is asking more questions to collect a wider range of information from callers to better prepare officers who are responding to calls. This is being done so officers can take more proactive steps; it will not affect officers’ response to calls for service.
• Officers may ask community members to meet them outside of homes and businesses where appropriate in order to practice social distancing.
Officers will attempt to maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet from persons unless physical contacxt is required.
• Officers may be seen wearing gloves and other protective clothing when answering your call for service.
• Community outreach and scheduled community events have been suspended until further notice.
• We have temporarily suspended public access to the Police Department Offices unless such visit is approved and necessary to vital operations.
• We are regularly sanitizing our facilities and our vehicles in an attempt to keep our employees and citizens safe.
On behalf of the men and women of the Hope Police Department, I want to reassure you that public safety is our number one priority. HPD will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to provide the best possible service and response to our community.
We are a 24-hour, full-service police department, and will always be here to serve you. We are committed to protecting the health and well-being of the public and our officers and to taking every possible step to ensure we are not unknowingly spreading the virus to vulnerable populations by the very nature of our job.
Sincerely,
JR
Wilson
Chief of Police