The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) released a statement to notify D.C. residents about operational adjustments it made due to the spread of COVID-19 disease.
MPD facilities will remain open, but implement a number of measures, with which it is aiming to limit potential exposure to the coronavirus without interrupting their quality of service during the crisis.
MPD’s operational adjustments during COVID-19 is available in 7 different languages: https://t.co/IWUXLQesS0
As a reminder, our facilities will remain open at this time & we ask for your cooperation in mitigating exposure & spread of COVID-19.
Visit: https://t.co/FrK05X8b9Q pic.twitter.com/YLYC9Jignp
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 19, 2020
If you are calling the police and experiencing flu-like symptoms such as fever and cough, you are expected to notify them about your situation so that first responders can be prepared. Other measures are as follows:
- During calls for service and interactions, officers will ask to speak with complainants outdoors when possible. They will try to maintain a distance that is consistent with public health official recommendations and ask for the public’s cooperation.
- Following the D.C. Superior Court order restricting court operations, MPD has expanded criteria that district stations will use to determine which arrestees will be released on citation pending a future court date instead of being held for presentment to court the next court day.
- Due to suspension of certain services within the Department of Motor Vehicles Officers, officers will issue warning notices of infractions only for expired D.C. issued vehicle registration and for expired licenses/permits that expire on March 1, 2020 or after.
- They are urging citizens to submit written statements to officers and detectives through email. Officers will ensure citizens are provided with an appropriate email address and they will confirm receipt of all communications.
- The department is encouraging the public to file police reports online for non-emergency incidents via this link: https://mpdc.dc.gov/service/file-police-report-online. (For emergency, you should dial 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 to request assistance with city services and information 24 hours a day.)
MPD facilities have suspended meetings and events until further notice.