Officer Tarkos at the City of Poughkeepsie Public Safety Building.
POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie police officers stood outside in near-freezing temps on Thursday afternoon to distribute COVID-19 home test kits that were made available by Dutchess County on Wednesday afternoon.
Dutchess County supplied several municipalities with the kits as a response to the climbing COVID infection rates. Towns throughout Dutchess learned about the program on Wednesday and went to work planning to make them available on short notice.
Officer Kevin Van Wagner at the COVID test kit distribution.
The City of Poughkeepsie received 650 test kits and a supply of K-95 masks that they made available to city residents beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Public Safety Building at 505 Main Street. The availability and distribution information was released by City of Poughkeepsie Community Engagement Director John Penney on Wednesday. The instructions were posted on social media and Mid Hudson News.
Community Policing Unit Sergeant Mike Longbard noted that people began lining up on Main Street early Thursday morning and had to be turned away until the 3:00 p.m. start time. By 7:00 p.m., the city had depleted its supply of the 650 test kits.
“Our police officers stepped up at a moment’s notice to get the kits distributed,” said Mayor Rob Rolison. “They streamlined the process and got the kits handed out. It’s just one more way they have worked to keep our city safe.”
The city is prepared to distribute more home-testing kits as soon as they become available.
