(Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Community safety

‘We will be there when you need us to be’: police chief

Mar 20, 2020 | 5:00 PM

For the general public, social distancing is an inconvenience but for members of the Prince Albert Police Service, person-to-person contact is unavoidable and a daily occurrence.

Chief Jon Bergen told paNOW preparedness planning around COVID-19 started weeks ago and includes both staffing models and how to handle arrests.

“We are making sure to roll out our personal protective equipment to the members that are going to be in those situations so that they will have the equipment they need to safely respond,” he said.

The police service has already announced a number of preventative measures in response to COVID-19 including the temporary closure of the downtown substation. Bergen said police will try to limit person-to-person contact by having more initial conversations over the phone.

“We are going to ask a couple additional questions just to field out any concerns so we can properly respond to the caller in the safest way possible,” he said.

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When asked about staffing models, Bergen explained the planning process is very fluid and subject to constant change. He confirmed police service members are watching what’s been happening in other jurisdictions. He is discussing protocols with department heads from across the province.

“We are monitoring what the risk is and if we are exposed or any portion of our organization is exposed to the virus. We have a plan to make sure we have the staff where we need them,” he said.

Moving forward, Bergen said all core functions of policing will be reviewed to make sure there is no gap in service. He also promised officers will be more visible than usual.

“You can count on the police service. We will be there when you need us to be,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell