LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department is limiting in-person response to reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus.
A memorandum from Chief Steve Conrad said effective at 7 p.m. on March 16, LMPD would "no longer respond to most non-violent criminal incidents requiring a police report." LMPD Service Center will handle those calls, filing reports by phone.
Response to some low-level calls for service will be ceased if no one is in imminent danger, according to the memorandum. And people involved in non-injury traffic collisions will be instructed on how to obtain and complete a Kentucky Civilian Traffic Accident Reporting form. That includes hit-and-run incidents.
The memorandum said all crimes reported "will be investigated in the same manner as before."
"These changes are necessary to continue to provide our community with a high level of service while protecting the safety of our members and the public," the memorandum read in part.
Officials also say all first responders in Louisville will be screened for symptoms of the virus at the beginning of their shifts.
LMPD officers are also no longer allowed to request vacation time.
District 4 Metro Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith thinks it's a wide decision.
"The most important thing I think we all have to keep in mind is that our police officers our first responders as well as our health care workers those are the front-line folks for us and we are at war right now. we are at war against the virus," she said
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