202004.03
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More Southern California police cover their faces to guard against coronavirus

by in News

Many local law enforcement agencies are asking their officers and deputies to wear face coverings while out on the street, following recommendations by local health agencies that the public should don masks or bandanas to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Health departments for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties for the first time this week said folks should shield their faces in light of research showing that COVID-19 can spread through asymptomatic individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also made the recommendation Friday to use cloth and non-medical masks, but emphasized that social distancing remains a crucial factor in slowing the spread of the virus.

As the number of positive cases climb across the region, law enforcement agencies have also seen a rise of those contracting coronavirus in their departments.

In Riverside County, 26 Sheriff’s Department employees tested positive for COVID-19 by Friday, including two deputies who died from the virus this week. Five San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputies and two Orange County deputies – one who works at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange and the other at the Central Jail Complex in Santa Ana – also tested positive, authorities said Friday.

In Whittier, the Police Department’s approximately 120 sworn officers are now wearing face masks inside the station and N95 masks when they make contact with people in the field.

“We have taken a more strict stance as of yesterday,” Whittier police Lt. Dominic Iraldo said Friday.

If a detective or officer is at a desk, they can take the mask off, Iraldo said. But they have to wear a mask once they get up and walk around.

While officers are not driving around with N95 masks on, Iraldo said, they will put them on when coming into contact with people on the streets.

“If we lose 5 to 10 officers to the virus, they have to be quarantined at home,” he said. “We will lose (those) officers for 14 days. We can’t afford to cut corners.”

Gardena police officers this week have had the option of wearing masks and other personal protective gear after each officer was given about five or six masks, along with a kit that included gloves and goggles, Sgt. Alex Rivera said. That will change when additional supplies come in early next week, when officers will then be asked to wear them during each shift, he said.

Rivera has chosen to wear masks while in the field this week, saying the extra gear doesn’t affect him while he’s on the job.

“We’re in peoples’ houses, in care centers, hospitals, we’re conducting inventory on peoples’ vehicles and we don’t really know, subconsciously, when we’re touching our face,” Rivera said. “There is an extra sense of security with it on.”

Rivera heads a team of 14 officers and said they’ve all also been on board with the extra protective measures.

The Los Angeles Police Department, which has “strongly encouraged” its 13,000 employees to wear face coverings, are offering disposable masks and are in the process of procuring cloth washable masks, agency spokesman Josh Rubenstein said. But patrol officers are also given N95 masks for when they come in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, or is known to be positive for the virus.

“This is to protect the public and the officers,” Rubenstein said Friday. “We have 38 officers who have tested positive. I would love it if there would not be one more.”

In Orange County, multiple agencies – including larger ones like Anaheim and Orange County Sheriff’s – are letting their officers or deputies decide if the situation calls for masks.

“We’re not riding around with them on; we are putting them on as needed,” said Orange police Sgt. Phil McMullin.

“If someone has symptoms or if (officers) know they’ll be in close contact with people, they can choose to wear them.”

That strategy was echoed at other Orange County law enforcement agencies.

“If they feel they are encountering someone or a situation with COVID-19, they have them to use,” said Fullerton police Sgt. Eric Bridges.

All officers at the Riverside Police Department have been issued N95 face masks, along with extra rubber gloves, said Officer Ryan Railsback, a spokesman for the agency. The department also is taking other precautions to social distance, including taking certain calls over the phone, he added.

“We will still show up when needed,” Railsback said Friday. “But we may be wearing something to cover our nose and mouth right now.  We need to make sure our officers stay protected while we are out protecting others.”

Staff writer Brian Rokos contributed to this report.