The Sheriff's Department cancels its agents' vacations for any eventuality that happens with the pandemic
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) increased the police presence on the streets of the city to maintain order as a result of the chaos caused by the coronavirus.
"We have uniformed and sent 50% of detectives to the street to be vigilant in commercial stores; and in places where they give food to the elderly, ”said Al Labrada, commander of the LAPD's South Los Angeles Bureau.
Among the measures to be taken to stop the expansion of the coronavirus are the closure of the railing where the reception of complaints at police stations is carried out.
"If someone comes in with a complaint, an officer will assist you and take your information, but from outside the buildingChief Labrada said.
He also invited Angelenos who want to file a complaint that is not urgent, to do so online.
Commander Labrada indicated that they want to assure the population that their services will not stop, and there will be more officers on the streets to avoid problems.
“We don't want to get infected or get sick because that way we won't be able to help anyone. What we want is to support the community so that this ends soon, "he summarized.
But he also asked the community to be compassionate and not take all the merchandise from the shopping malls.
Uninterrupted services
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said they work very hard to ensure that their services are not interrupted by the coronavirus.
"Staff vacations were canceled until the end of April to ensure all sheriffs are available, and those who work in tasks that are not essential, can temporarily move to patrol and custody, "he said.
As of February 28, the total population in county jails amounted to 17,076 prisoners, but as a result of ordering those who had less than 30 days to serve their sentence to be released, the number dropped to 17,076.
For the moment, there is not a single confirmed case of coronavirus.
To avoid putting more people in jail and decrease the chances of contracting the virus, Villanueva said they increased the total amount of bail required to be booked or processed to $ 50,000, which was previously $ 25,000.
At a press conference, he revealed that the number of arrests overall has been reduced during the coronavirus crisis. The average number of arrests per day is 300, but last week they were only 60.
In addition, protective equipment such as masks, gloves, protective glasses, and hand sanitizers have been provided to bailiffs who are on the street.
Even in the line of duty, officers have been asked to maintain social distance, he said.
And while all county buildings have been ordered to close their doors to the public, Sheriff Villegas ordered that the corridors of patrol stations be kept open.
He also encouraged reporting non-emergency incidents online.
He asked those who are required to go to a station for services such as child custody exchanges or report to sign, to notify sheriffs if they experience symptoms of influenza, fever or respiratory illness so that precautionary measures can be taken.
Concern for detainees
Youth and community members demonstrated outside the Los Angeles Central Jail for Minors to ask local and state officials to immediately release detainees and inmates, thereby preventing them from contracting the coronavirus.
Supported by more than 30 groups and organizations, they said that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested that between 160 and 210 million Americans could contract the virus within a period of one year. They have also predicted, they indicated, the death of between 200,000 and 1.7 million people.
"While we appreciate the efforts of Los Angeles County and the statements of officials, we do not feel that the system, which includes youth and adults in custody and under supervision, is protected from the coronavirus," they noted in a letter sent to supervisors, senators, assemblymen and other authorities and leaders such as Mayor Eric Garcetti.
They cited examples of epidemics within Los Angeles County jails that have included tuberculosis, hepatitis, mumps, HIV, staph infections, valley fever, and swine flu, so they believe the coronavirus would spread faster with devastating results. .
They should be taken into account, they warned, that these prisons, residential treatment centers and probation offices are in unsanitary conditions, closed, with limited medical resources and often overcrowded.
In the letter, they urged probation officials to hold a webinar to answer questions and concerns from families, and people involved in the system.
They demanded to expand the protocols for sharing a coronavirus plan for youth and adults on the parole websites, board of supervisors, the health department, and distribute it to all juvenile jails, parole camps, county jails, stations from the sheriff and others.
They asked to cancel all probation appointments at offices and mandatory addiction testing programs until the coronavirus threat has passed.
They demanded to release those who do not need supervision and to allow others to report by phone only.
Other requests include providing regular updates online and by phone about the impact of the pandemic on people under parole supervision and in custody.
Likewise asked the court to immediately release people with compromised and vulnerable health to protect them from being exposed to the coronavirus; In addition, those who are one year away from being released on parole are released.
