Learning from Hindsight in 2020
By : Rainer Navarro , Chief of Police – Santa Rosa PD
With legal changes such as AB748 , SB1421 and RIPA taking shape , it seemed as though law enforcement leaders
had a good handle on the forecast for our profession . However , 2020 brought significant changes that will impact public safety forever . Communities are facing an unparalleled pandemic of our time . COVID-19 changed the dynamics of how our communities live and how law enforcement agencies provide service . Calls for police reform and widespread demonstrations were familiar , but the frequent and sustained violence , coupled with hurried reactions from the public , were more dramatic than I have seen in my 28-year career . Meanwhile , the effort to build citizens ’ trust in law enforcement has seen more challenges than ever . The perfect storm of a pandemic , social issues , and high-profile police incidents affected communities throughout the country . The City of Santa Rosa was no different .
On March 31 , 2020 , we experienced California ’ s first police officer COVID-19 death . Detective Marylou Armer died due to complications from the virus and another 8 officers tested positive within two weeks . Detective Armer ’ s tragic death made this invisible killer suddenly apparent , compelling us to react quickly and overhaul safety protocols to address the virus . Our overhauled safety protocols , which continue to this day , include entry stations with temperature checks , and employees assigned to sanitize our facility . We now clean equipment and vehicles with sprayers and UV lights on a regular basis . We rely on dispatchers to ask questions specific to health issues . We standardized the practice of officers screening contacts prior to going into homes . Officers can be exposed daily , when required to venture into the safety bubbles of other people . As this virus has demanded a better understanding of physical wellness , the changes we made have enhanced safety for both the community and our staff . Even after the pandemic passes , many of these protocols should stay in place , especially in the winter months , to combat the spread of diseases and
viruses in the future . Continuing to improve procedures that bolster the health and safety of our officers will , in turn , continually improve public safety .
COVID-19 has also changed the way we meet . In Santa Rosa , meetings with Command Staff , employee associations , and other city departments are now held virtually . Briefings take place outside . In the past , law enforcement has relied on traditional community engagement events such as Coffee with a Cop or Community Police Academies to conduct outreach activities . COVID-19 has made events like these unfeasible and reduced our platform almost entirely to social media . Although SRPD , like other departments , has been increasing its social media presence , our young online platform became our main tool to address the prevailing distrust in law enforcement that has pushed many to the streets in protest . Without traditional engagement methods , our profession needs to become more creative in building trust and legitimacy . Investing in virtual platforms provides the potential to accomplish these goals .
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