As COVID-19 continues to spread in our community, residents of the City of Santa Cruz can be assured public safety agencies have thoroughly prepared to address issues as they arise and have thoughtfully prepared contingency plans to manage the potential exponential growth of this disease. Police, Fire, and EMS are diligently working together, and are in constant communication with the County Department of Public Health, the City Manager’s Office, and our colleagues throughout the county and state. We are prepared to continue to respond to calls for police and fire services, as well as managing the effect of COVID-19 within Santa Cruz.
As we prepare operational plans, we are mindful that COVID-19 will disproportionately and adversely impact our front line operations personnel. We must protect them from exposure to provide continued service to the community. The very nature of their job dictates that they interact with people who have compromised immune systems or are actively sick with COVID-19. To minimize exposure to our personnel, and to the public, we have implemented the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), thorough decontamination protocols, and triage of calls to maintain the ability to respond for the most serious of incidents.
Finally, should multiple officers and firefighters become exposed and quarantined, our remaining dedicated staff is prepared to work. Plans for maintaining staffing to provide the most critical of our public safety missions are in place. Staffing may be adjusted, and response modified, but rest assured we will respond to aid those in need and to maintain law and order.
Andrew G. Mills, Chief of Police | Jason Hajduk, Fire Chief
Santa Cruz County residents are strongly urged to take measures to protect themselves, their families, and their community. For local information, residents may visit www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus, call 211 or text “coronavirus” to 211211.
For the latest information on coronavirus in California, http://cdph.ca.gov/covid19
