BOSTON — Even in the best of times, police work is a tough and physical job and now the COVID-19 crisis is adding another challenging layer to this demanding line of work.
Boston 25 News reporter Bob Ward has been speaking to Police departments across the state about how they are managing during the coronavirus and they all say social distancing is a key.
“We operate under the assumption that everyone has been infected,” said Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes.
In Chelsea, there are more officers on the streets, but they are keeping a safe distance from the public, and from each other.
When officers answer a call, masks and gloves are just as required as keeping at least six feet away.
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Two Chelsea Police officers have tested positive for COVID-19.
Chief Kyes says the officers were both symptomatic, but they are getting better and are expected to return to work soon.
Chelsea has 111 police officers, and keeping them safe while serving the public is a top priority.
“We want people to know they are safe during this crisis,“ Chief Kyes said. “We want them to know they are being protected.”
In Norwood, Chief Bill Brooks says none of his 61 officers have tested positive for COVID-19.
Chief Brooks says every day the department holds a virtual roll call, and officers get their briefings in their cruisers.
The Norwood Command Staff has been split in half and now works in teams, so that if one member gets infected, the virus likely won’t spread through the Administration.
In Franklin, Police Sgt Brian Johnson says, just before COVID-19 struck, he picked up gallons of hand sanitizer from a supplier for his department.
He adds police officers are required to wipe down their cruisers every day, and the town of Franklin sanitizes the entire fleet three times a week.
All of these steps taken to ensure the safety of the public and police officers.
“Officers are concerned about their own health, their family’s health, whether they are going to bring home something with them from the job. And everybody is concerned about that,” Johnson said.
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RESOURCES:
- Massachusetts Coronavirus Information
- Boston Coronavirus Information
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