(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

No LPS officers have tested positive for COVID-19, despite coughing “assault”

Apr 10, 2020 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) is providing updates on the condition of a peace officer who was intentionally coughed on during an arrest.

The incident occurred on April 2 when police were called to a report of a domestic assault at a northside home.

The suspect said he had possible exposure to COVID-19 and allegedly coughed directly into the officer’s face. The man said he hoped the officer would become infected.

Inspector Jason Walper was not able to disclose the officer’s name but says he was immediately put into self-isolation following the arrest.

The officer completed the Alberta Health Services (AHS) self-assessment and it was determined that he did not need to get tested for the virus. He remains in self-isolation as a precaution.

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Other members had attended the scene as well.

“They followed the guidelines set out by AHS, the self-assessments, the AHS guidelines and they were deemed to not require self-isolation at this time,” says Walper. “Obviously, if any of these individuals would start to notice symptoms like you or I, they would have to go into self-isolation and follow the processes.”

Up to this point, only two officers in Lethbridge have had to enter self-isolation out of COVID-19 concerns, one of which is scheduled to return to work Friday.

“We have had no police officers in Lethbridge test positive for COVID-19.”

LPS has implemented several steps to try to keep their officers and the public safe during the pandemic.

They have limited public entry into the police station, instead asking the public to report certain matters by phone or online. More details here.

When you call for police assistance, the person taking the call will ask questions about whether anyone is experiencing any flu-like symptoms or has been in contact with anyone who could potentially have contracted COVID-19.

“If they don’t have to enter into a residence, then they won’t enter into the residence – they’ll ask the complainants to come outside if they can and deal with them in an open-air environment and maintaining that physical distance if they can,” says Walper.

“Certainly, that’s not always possible. If our officers have to arrest somebody, we do have to go hands-on and we do have to touch people. If we believe there’s a risk, if they’re exhibiting any flu-like symptoms, then they will wear certain protective equipment – gloves, masks, etc. if they have to.”

Should LPS find themselves in a situation where a large number of members have to take time off and self-isolate, the police force has a plan in place to re-deploy non-frontline officers to ensure they can maintain a proper level of enforcement.

“We’ve made it very clear and the Chief has put out directives that all police officers in our service have to be uniform-ready, so ready to deploy at a moment’s notice including our executive team, so including myself, and we’re prepared to do that if necessary.”

During the pandemic up until now, Walper says they have not had any issues being able to attend necessary calls for service due to a lack of available staffing.