UPDATED 3/18/20 at 12:15 p.m.
The Santa Clara Police Department is committed to the health and safety of our community.
We have received several questions from residents about COVID-19, and our response to emergency and non-emergency calls for service. In trying to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard our employees, SCPD has implemented a handful of temporary service level changes:
• Public Safety Dispatchers will continue to staff the City’s Communications Center 24/7, 365. Dial 9-1-1 in an emergency (e.g. medical emergency, fire, crimes about to happen, in progress or that have resulted in serious personal injury, property damage or property loss) or 408-615-5580 for non-emergency situations. Responding officers will be utilizing personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves, glasses masks, etc.)
• The Police Building (601 El Camino Real) will remain open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Closed Sunday. A sign on the front door instructs the public to call before entering (there is a phone available to the right of the main entrance). Basic screening on an individuals’ needs will be conducted before entering the facility. Staff will utilize gloves when handling customers’ paperwork, etc. Staff will be utilizing gloves when handling customers’ paperwork or items. You should only come to the Police Building for urgent matters that cannot wait until the shelter-in-place order is lifted
The Northside Substation (3992 Rivermark Parkway) will be closed until further notice
• All public functions (e.g. Citizens’ Police Academy, Department tours, D.A.R.E., Chief’s Advisory Committee meeting, trainings, recruiting events, etc.) have been postponed or cancelled
• The publication of the Police Blotter has been suspended until further notice.
Residents interested in learning more about crime activity in their neighborhood can utilize an online service in near real-time. For more information about this free third-party service, log onto https://www.communitycrimemap.com/
• Officers will be dispatched to traffic collisions with an injury, when a traffic hazard exists, an involved party is unlicensed or lacks insurance. Officers will not be dispatched to traffic collisions involving property damage, only. Instead, Public Safety Dispatchers will instruct the involved parties to exchange information and contact their insurance agency; legally this is all that is required by law for property damage accidents
• For non-emergency crimes (e.g. harassing communications, lost property, theft, theft from a vehicle, vandalism, tampering, etc.) or crimes with no suspect information, Public Safety Dispatchers may instruct individuals to file a police report online at www.scpd.org. Detectives will continue to investigate these crimes
• When an individual calls the Communications Center for a medical call, Public Safety Dispatchers will inquire about flu-like symptoms
• The Investigations Bureau will conduct phone interviews whenever possible and requests for videos and/or paperwork will be sent electronically. If face-to-face interaction is required, our officers or detectives may ask to meet you outside versus inside
• All County-wide traffic enforcement details, and other special enforcement activities (e.g. tobacco grant operations, Office of Traffic Safety driving under the influence checkpoint, etc.) have been postponed
• All Police Activity League (P.A.L.) sports practices and games have been postponed until further notice
• Santa Clara County Public Health issued the shelter-in-place order https://bit.ly/2IRcsz5. For inquiries call 2-1-1 or text “Coronavirus” to 211211
Remember that public safety is our top priority and we want to ensure we are doing our part to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
At SantaClaraCA.gov/CoronavirusUpdates find the following resources:
• Updates from the City Manager and Mayor
• Service level adjustments in the City of Santa Clara
• Event and program updates
• Santa Clara County Public Health resources
• AlertSCC emergency notification registration details
• Link to Santa Clara Unified School District information
From all of us at SCPD, be well!
