CULLMAN, Ala. – With a sharp rise in domestic violence calls and a quarantine order that needs to be enforced, The Tribune reached out to local heads of law enforcement to see how officers are protecting themselves while performing their duties, as well as how the outbreak has affected those duties. We contacted Chief Kenny Culpepper from the Cullman Police Department, Sheriff Matt Gentry from the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office and Chief Bob Long from the Hanceville Police Department.
How are the officers being protected from the disease?
Chief Culpepper: “We’d had a stockpile of PPE before all this happened, so we were able to issue it early on – gloves, masks, face shields, suits, and even rubber boots if they have to go out somewhere. We’ve also told the officers to, if possible, stay on the porch and talk to people through the door when they go check on a residence. At the station, we make all employees spray and rinse their shoes, sanitize their hands and sanitize the door handles when they come in, and we now have two live-in trustees who mop and sanitize the department every day. Finally, we do temperature checks for everyone in the department – we’ve already sent two employees home and had them tested, but fortunately they were negative – and we try to segment the officer shifts so that one shift coming back doesn’t come in contact with the next shift going out.”
Sheriff Gentry: “We have quarantined the detention facility and we’re checking the employees and inmates there for fevers twice a day. We also deep clean the facility twice a day. The deputies have been provided masks and gloves, and there’s a constant supply of sanitizing material – Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, stuff like that. Also, on certain calls the officers can stay outside while talking to people to minimize possible exposure.”
Chief Long: “The officers have gloves, respirators, suits and even gas masks. We’ve also made sure they’ve got 60% alcohol hand sanitizer everywhere. The jail cells also get disinfected with a bleach solution every time someone is released on bail.”
How has the pandemic affected law enforcement operations?
Chief Culpepper: “We’re trying to avoid bringing new people into the jail so they don’t spread anything to the people inside, so we’ve been issuing non-traffic citations to people instead of arresting for misdemeanors. We’ve also got a rotating shift at the police department that takes information and does reports over the phone. Dispatch will screen for calls that don’t require an officer in person – for example, a stolen bike – and the people at the phone will stay on the line with the caller and fill out the report. Mostly, we’ve just been busy trying to educate people about the quarantine and what they can and can’t do.”
Sheriff Gentry: “We have also set up a system for people to call in for non-emergency calls and do reports over the phone.”
Chief Long: “The officers are still making traffic stops, so they are encouraged to keep 6 feet of distance whenever possible. Our arrest rate has been slightly lower, but we are still making arrests. Believe me, if you break the law in Hanceville, we’ll have a place for you.”
Chief Culpepper also mentioned the CPD has already made one arrest for quarantine violation, and it will respond to calls regarding concerns about other possible violations. He also said that while the number of domestic violence calls has gone up, they usually involve less hitting and bruises and more loud arguments that concerned neighbors call and report. By contrast, Chief Long stated that HPD has not seen a noticeable rise in domestic violence calls.
For his final comment, Culpepper stated, “I want to encourage everyone to abide by the health order because these next two weeks will be critical to slow the spread of the disease in Alabama.”
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