HUDSON VALLEY – Police departments throughout the Hudson Valley are taking measures to keep the officers and public safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department Captain Michael O’Dowd said that his department has been fortunate in that no officers or civilian staff have needed to be quarantined due to exposure resulting in no staffing changes. Police Chief Kevin Faber and his captains and lieutenants have adjusted their schedules to oversee the department. O’Dowd said that the command staff is rotating between working remotely or at headquarters, adding that there are always members of the command staff present at the station.
According to O’Dowd, the department has taken measures to prevent further spread of the virus by adjusting work schedules, minimizing of employee-to-employee contact, and increased cleaning and sanitizing of the facility and the vehicles. “The officers are still out there doing their job, protecting and serving the community as they always have. They are also taking precautions to maintain appropriate social distancing measures and minimizing contact when possible,” said the captain. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have been issued to all sworn and civilian members of the department.
O’Dowd noted that the department has gone “live” with a new online reporting system so the public can file reports for non-emergency calls, reducing face-to-face interactions between the public and the police. The public can access the non-emergency reporting site at https://secure.coplogic.com/dors/en/filing/selectincidenttype?dynparam=1586455724377.
In Ulster County, the Town of Lloyd PD has had one officer test positive for COVID-19, who is currently quarantined. According to Chief James Janso, three civilian employees of the department have also been quarantined. Testing was performed on the three employees with two negative test results and one result still pending.
“The officers are still out there doing their job but they are limiting public contact when possible while still maintaining enforcement and responding to complaints,” said the chief. Janso noted that officers have pulled together to maintain proper manpower on each shift, with all assigned command staff reporting to duty at the station. As for precautionary measures, Janso said the department is following the protocols set forth by the Ulster County Health Department as well as the NYS Department of Health.
City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Tom Pape has two officers under his command that have exhibited symptoms of COVID-19 and have self-quarantined at the request of their respective physicians. Chief Pape said that the pandemic has had minimal impact on the department and all command staff are working their assigned shifts at the station.
To prevent internal spread of the virus, Pape has instituted some changes. The civilian staff and sworn officers have been separated as much as possible and all personnel have been ordered to wear facial coverings while in the station and when out interacting with the public. It has also been ordered that all civilians entering the confines of the department wear facial coverings. An outside contractor has been brought in on two different occasions to disinfect the facilities.
“We are limiting unnecessary contact, taking reports over the phone when possible and distancing ourselves from individuals while taking “walk-in” complaints to the extent possible,” said Pape. With regard to physical interactions, Pape said “Obviously, if we need to go “hands-on” during an arrest we will do that but take precautionary steps once the individual is in custody.” The City of Poughkeepsie Police also have the capability for the public to file non-emergency complaints online. To file a non-emergency complaint, the public is encouraged to visit the website at https://secure.coplogic.com/dors/en/crupfilingperson?dynparam=1586457308630.
In Hyde Park, Chief Robert Benson and his department have not had any employees, civilian or officers, affected by COVID-19. Chief Benson and his Lieutenant Paul Caccia are working at home when time permits. Benson noted that he goes to the station when necessary but is trying to maintain the social distancing protocols.
Hyde Park has been working on a $187,000 software system for the department. Sergeant Moore and Police Assistant Byrne have been working remotely from home with the assistance of the Dutchess County Office of Computer and Information Services to keep the project on track.
Asked how the pandemic has affected the way his department, Benson said “One of the hardest things for me is to change the way we do business. I am very community-oriented and there is nothing like the face-to-face interaction we have with our residents.” The changes that have been put into place include taking non-emergency complaints over the phone when possible and limiting the number of people inside the station. Officers no longer have face-to-face shift changes. Instead, the oncoming shift enters the department, cleans their vehicles, and starts their shift. After the new shift leaves, the outgoing officers clean their vehicles and then leave for the day. Benson noted that all officers have been fit for N-95 masks and equipped with gloves, goggles, hand sanitizer, and Lysol wipes.
