The South River Police Department announced changes to the way officers normally operate and interact with the public due to coronavirus in order to maintain the well-being of residents as well as the health of officers and staff.
The department asks for the public’s patience, help and understanding when encountering the following changes or requests, according to information released on March 15:
- When possible, officers may keep a safe distance from you and may avoid shaking hands.
- Officers may request to speak with you outside of your residence.
- In some cases, an officer may contact you via telephone to complete a police report.
- When speaking with officers at our headquarters, the conversation may take place through a window.
- In some cases, dispatchers may screen callers for signs of respiratory illness so first responders can take the proper precautions when responding to your residence.
- Please do not come to our headquarters if you are ill. Instead, please contact us by telephone for assistance.
- If you or a current member of your household have signs of a respiratory illness (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath), please be sure to notify our dispatcher when you call so the proper precautions can be taken when responding to your residence.
“These changes are out of an abundance of caution and are not an indicator of our department’s willingness to help. The only thing we are temporarily changing is the way we provide our services, not the quality of services we provide. Rest assured that during an emergency, you can still expect the same response as always,” the statement reads.
Dial 9-1-1 for emergencies only. For non-emergencies, contact 732-238-1000.
Monitor Nixle alerts and the department’s social media accounts for any updates relevant to South River. Visit www.southriverpd.org and click on “Social Media” to sign up for Nixle alerts. For official information on COVID-19, visit www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html