By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper said they are taking precautions to keep their employees healthy in light of the COVID-19 issues in the world right now.
"One of the biggest worries and concerns that we have right now would be with our emergency personnel," Hooper said. "Specifically, in our communications center, if they would be affected and have to be quarantined. We've taken some internal steps and put them in place to keep our dispatchers isolated away from our police officers who may be exposed and general members of the public."
If something did happen with dispatch, there is a contingency plan.
"We do have a capable backup site that we could transition to, if we had to," Hooper said. "We don't have 100% capabilities from there through that site, but we are able to accomodate and not affect emergency services."
Dispatchers are asking preliminary questions when they are called to find out if EMS workers will need additional protection to help people.
"I know both EMS and Fire have taken extra precaution with PPE and certain things, if they're going into those environments," Hooper said. "We're restricting some of our police officers, because we don't have and we can't always suit up and wear PPE."
Chief Hooper has worked together with Fire Chief Steve Beer to have PPE available if officers are needed in an infectious situation.