Will the cops come if I call? How coronavirus is changing Midlands’ police response
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Wednesday, March 8, at 5:45 p.m. to report on the Lexington Police Department’s changes because of coronavirus. A previous version of the story said the department was making no changes, but the department issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying it was going to an alternate call response plan.
While Midlands police agencies will continue to respond to emergency calls from homes, businesses and other scenes, the coronavirus outbreak is limiting which non-emergency calls police show up for.
To protect themselves and citizens from COVID-19, police in Columbia, Forest Acres, Irmo, West Columbia and Lexington County are following health professionals’ “social distancing” guidelines and modifying when and where they’re showing up.
Columbia Police Department said non-emergency calls are now being handled mostly over the phone. In some cases, callers may be directed to fill out a report online.
The department’s regional offices are closed and officers out on the beat are assessing walk-up reports on a case-by-case basis to determine if police should be dispatched, according to the department.
Also, 911 callers “will be asked an additional line of questioning pertaining to the coronavirus,” according to a city statement.
Emergency calls might involve car wrecks, injured people, serious medical issues and major crimes, such as robberies, burglaries, assaults and incidents involving children that are happening at the time of the call, according to local police. Non-emergency calls include fraud, labor disputes, prior assaults that took place days before being reported and other issues that are not life-threatening.
West Columbia Police, Lexington Police and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department have made similar changes.
“Non-emergency calls related to incidents that have already happened will likely be handled by a deputy phone call, rather than in-person,” the Lexington sheriff’s department said in a statement. “Rest assured, we will continue to respond to emergency calls for service involving crimes in progress or other incidents threatening someone’s well-being or life following standard procedure.”
The Lexington Police Department, in line with suggestions from the Lexington County Detention Center and the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice, is issuing citations in some cases rather than making arrests, unless the offender poses a threat to the community, spokesperson Cameron Mortenson said.
Meanwhile, the Forest Acres Police Department has “cut down on some contacts but not on all contacts,” Chief Marion Sealy said.
Like most, Forest Acres officers are dispatching only to the most dire calls. Non-emergency calls can be reported by phone or in-person at police headquarters near the intersection of Forest Drive and Trenholm Road.
Additionally, the Forest Acres and Irmo police departments have limited services like finger printing and municipal court sessions.
“We’re concentrating our efforts in high visibility areas like parking lots and grocery stores where a lot of people are right now,” Forest Acres Chief Sealy said.
Traffic offense are being handle on a case-by-case basis, Sealy added.
All the police agencies have closed or limited access to their headquarters.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said his deputies are taking “safety precautions” in a video statement and struck a defiant tone against any “bad guys” who might try to take advantage of the coronavirus “crisis.”
“We’re going to make sure we don’t have fear in our communities of crime,” Lott said. “As far as the sheriff’s department, we’re going to be out here in full-force. We’re not going to have scams, we’re not going to have flim-flams, we’re not going to have our elderly abused and their money taken. ... In fact, you’re going to see more deputies out there.”
Deputies that were assigned to schools and courts will now be assigned to work the road, Lott said.
“We’re going to make sure crime does not increase during this crisis,” he said. “Together we can make sure we can get through it safe.”
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
Click the drop-down icon on this card for more on the virus and what you should do to keep yourself and those around you healthy.
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
For more information, visit the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms are similar to the flu and include fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
How can I stop the spread of the coronavirus?
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, and cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
If you develop symptoms similar to the coronavirus, you should seek medical attention. Stay home from work or school and avoid contact with others. It can take up to 14 days after coming into contact with the virus to develop symptoms.
COVID-19 is a new condition and there’s much about the disease we still don’t understand. For now, taking precautions is the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 11:12 AM.