Media Release - Police Focusing on High-Visibility Enforcement During COVID-19 Pandemic

Media Release - Police Focusing on High-Visibility Enforcement During COVID-19 Pandemic

Media Release – Police Focusing on High-Visibility Enforcement During COVID-19 Pandemic

Members of the Prince Albert Police Service continue to focus on high-visibility enforcement of the local community during the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Police officers have been conducting general patrols – known as Neighbourhood Strengthening – throughout residential areas, business districts and high-traffic locations in an effort to ensure the safety of local residents, businesses and property. The attached graph highlights the general areas where police officers have conducted high-visibility patrols over the first two weeks of April.

Patrol members logged 765 high-visibility patrols between April 1 and 15, in addition to regular calls for service.

Patrol officers have been practicing physical distancing in the community and at work, including having only one officer per patrol car. Four additional patrol cars have been brought into service in order to accommodate health and government guidelines around physical distancing.

To date, no police officer or staff member with the Prince Albert Police Service has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Members of the public may see officers in the community wearing masks and gloves as part of additional efforts to protect against the virus.

The Prince Albert Police Service has extended a contract for additional cleaning services through P.A. Janitorial Services to complement current staff and enhance daily cleaning and sanitation procedures. Additional equipment, including a high-powered sanitation sprayer, have been purchased to assist in cleaning of patrol vehicles and detention areas.

In addition to closing the front office at the secondary police location on 10th Street East and promoting online options for criminal record checks and reporting crime, staff members who can work from home have been doing so since late March.

The Prince Albert Police Service continues to promote voluntary compliance with the public health orders to stay home and limit gatherings to less than 10 people. Between March 1 and April 13, our police service noted 47 calls for service related to the public health order. The majority of calls involve complaints around non-compliance with social distancing guidelines and orders around travel restrictions.

The police service has not issued any fines or made any arrests related to the COVID-19 public health order.

 

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