Coronavirus prompts changes at OKCPD

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — OKCPD is making some changes to protect its officers from exposure to the coronavirus.

Officers don’t have the luxury of working from home; they’restill hitting the streets and responding to calls when necessary. But like therest of us,Chief Wade Gourley said in a YouTube video posted to the department’sFacebook page Tuesday, that the department is certainly feeling the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, and they’re making changes to protect themselves and the citizens they serve.

“The Bricktown briefing station, we have closed because it doesn’t have the glass barrier like the other stations do to keep that separation and that distance,” said Chief Gourley.

All other briefing stations, including the department’s downtown headquarters, remain open. But Gourley still urged people to keep their distance.

“If you are sick, and again if it’s not an emergency, please don’t come to one of our stations and expose our officers,” said Gourley. “Do the best you can to stay at home and allow us to take the reports over the phone.”

Officers are only prepared to respond if it’s an emergency. Emergency callers are being asked to let dispatchers know if they are sick and to meet the responding officers outside when they arrive.

All non-emergency calls will be handled over the phone for the time being.

“We are having to change some things about what we do now, just temporarily. As soon as the public health threat has lifted, we’ll be back doing what we’ve always done before, and we’ll be doing better,” Gourley said.

You can stay up to date on all changes made at OKCPD by periodically checking their social media pages.