HANCOCK COUNTY — While many county residents are hunkering down, avoiding large crowds and trying to adhere to state guidelines on how to contain the spread of the coronavirus, it’s harder for first-responders.
Police departments are weighing changes in their protocols to limit their officers’ exposure to others. The Fortville Police Department, for example, has altered how it will handle some calls. Officers may respond to some non-emergency calls by phone to determine whether an in-person response is necessary, Chief Bill Knauer said.
“If you need to file a report or simply have a question, you will receive a phone call from the officer rather than see the officer in person,” Knauer said.
Knauer said officers are still patrolling and will be accessible, although the police department has been closed to visitors.
“We are available to everyone, and if you break the law, you will be charged,” Knauer said.
Other police departments in the county are adopting variations of that approach.
McCordsville’s chief of police, Paul Casey, said patrols are taking place as usual. He also said the department will use discretion in how to respond to non-emergency situations. That policy, however, should be transparent to the public, he said. “It’s business as usual,” Casey said. “We’re going to try to do everything we can to help everybody.”
Officials from the Greenfield Police Department and Hancock County Sheriff’s Department said their officers will continue to respond to all calls as normal. So is the New Palestine Police Department, whose chief, Bob Ehle, said, “As of right now, we’re doing the same as we’ve always done, but officers are being more cautious.”
Ehle also discouraged people from stopping by the police department, because only department employees will be allowed into the building for now.
Fire departments and paramedics don’t have the luxury of deciding which calls to handle by phone, of course. When units of the Greenfield Fire Territory respond to calls to help people who are sick, they will take precautions and wear masks, gloves and maybe a protective gown, public information officer Corey Breese said.
“We are going to respond to all calls,” Breese said. “We don’t want people to worry; we will respond, and we will not leave anyone to fend for themselves.
“The important thing is for anyone who feels sick to quarantine themselves,” Breese said.
The Sugar Creek Township Fire Department has shut down all tours and access to their fire departments except for employees. But that’s the extent of its limitation amid the outbreak. Like the Greenfield Fire Territory, paramedics will be extra cautious around people with viruslike symptoms.
“We’ll mask up and put a mask on the patient, so yes, we’re taking extra precautions,” public information officer Tony Bratcher said. “In no circumstances will we not respond.”
