Amid the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping across the state, the Grand Rapids Police Department says it’s ‘business as usual’ for the city’s law enforcement. While neighboring police departments are reducing the types of 911 calls that dispatch will send an officer out on, such as petty theft or larceny, the Grand Rapids Police Department says, for the time being, nothing is changing in how its police officers respond to calls.
“So, the malicious destructions of property, the parking complaints, the disorderly activities, the calls that I am actually looking at on our board, we are still answering,” Grand Rapids Police Department Public Administrative Officer, Sgt. John Wittkowski said. “Officers are still obviously taking precautions, and there are protocols in place with regards to eliminating exposure, but we are not limiting any calls for service at this point.”
Those protocols he says include keeping a safe distance from civilians while maintaining control of a situation, while officers are equipped with a large supply of latex gloves in the event of an arrest.
Meanwhile, the GRPD asks that the public call the Police Station by phone, and avoid coming into the station when possible.
