In response to the new coronavirus pandemic, local law enforcement and courts are changing procedures to limit social contact and risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.
In short, do more by phone and less in person.
That's a challenge for public services like police that depend on contact with the public.
In emergency situations or in response to crimes in progress, "we'll try to maintain a six-foot distance. But we can't not respond," said Monroe Chief of Police Fred Kelley.
For non-emergency police needs, like a neighbor dispute or report of online harassment, Kelley said his officers when possible will interview the involved parties by phone or through the glass in the police department lobby.
Officers may also respond wearing gloves and a mask, he said, but "we can't necessarily get encapsulated with air packs."
Kelley worries about the impact of exposure on the department.
If two officers working together on a call are potentially exposed to the virus and have to self-quarantine for 14 days, Kelley said, "then I've lost two officers." If those two officers in turn expose coworkers, the department could quickly become more short-staffed.
There were no reported cases of COVID-19 in Green or Lafayette County and 72 cases statewide as of Tuesday, March 17, up from just seven cases statewide five days earlier, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
At the Green County Justice Center in Monroe, no jury trials will be held "until further notice."
The order comes from Green County's two judges, James Beer and Thomas Vale, and is part of a pandemic policy they signed Monday, March 16.
The Justice Center will remain open but the judges are encouraging people to "delay making non-essential visits." Lawyers and litigants will be allowed to ask for a continuance of any proceeding by phone "and such requests will be granted liberally."
In addition to the suspension of jury trials, defendants in criminal cases represented by attorneys will be excused from attending pretrial conferences, and unrepresented defendants may have their pretrial conferences rescheduled. Parties involved in child support enforcement actions should appear by phone unless told to appear in person.
But, in general, cases will proceed as scheduled and "telephone conferences and video conferences will be used to the greatest extent possible in all matters."
Circuit courts across the state are adopting similar measures. Lafayette County Circuit Court remains open, for example, but jury trials scheduled before April 17 are postponed and will be rescheduled.
In Lafayette County, the sheriff's office is abiding by changes to protect staff, jail inmates and the public from risk of COVID-19 exposure. The changes went into effect Tuesday, March 17, at the direction of the county Human Resources Committee.
Inmate visitation is suspended at the Lafayette County Jail, however inmates can still talk by phone or video.
Usually these phone and video services cost per minute, but Sheriff Reg Gill said he is looking at ways to provide free time during the suspension of in-person visitation.
All non-essential public safety services, including vehicle registrations and renewals, are also suspended until further notice.
"As soon as we can get back to business as normal, we will do it in a heartbeat," Gill said. In the meantime, "we're going to try to do as much as possible over the phone to reduce as much public contact as possible."
Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud also announced changes at his department Tuesday, March 17, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
At the Green County Jail, the Huber work release program has been suspended until at least April 1. Outside jail programming that requires close personal contact, such as chaplain visits, AA visits and Bible study, are also suspended.
"Regretfully we need to suspend those helpful programs for our inmates," Skatrud said.
The Green County Jail doesn't have face-to-face visitation with inmates under normal circumstances, so visits will remain the same through a video monitor in the jail lobby.
Similar to other law enforcement agencies, Green County deputies will wear more personal protective equipment during their response to certain calls, particularly those where EMS is requested, and handle more cases by phone.
Deputies will also be maintaining the recommended six-foot distance from others. ("Please don't be offended, we are striving to keep everyone healthy," Skatrud wrote in his announcement of the policy change.)
All sheriff's office department meetings and trainings until at least April 14 are canceled, including a public C.R.A.S.E. (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event) training on April 14.
"My life is full of meetings, and basically every meeting has been cleared from my calendar," Skatrud said. He's in communication with sheriffs across the state, sharing and "borrowing" ideas for solutions and "just waiting to see how things shake out."
For the public, he recommends the Green County Health Department website, gcpublichealth.org.
"They're giving good guidance for how we should protect ourselves," he said.
At the Albany Police Department, which has one full-time chief and two full-time officers, there's no official policy in place in response to the pandemic, just a heightened awareness to stay clean.
"We're obviously taking precautions, sanitizing everything, same as everybody else, washing our hands, and making sure we clean our office and (squad) car out really well," said Chief Robert Ritter.
