Let's work together as a community to get through coronavirus challenges

As the recent virus continues to remain a focus for all of us at all levels of our society, I wanted to provide some information and awareness from the law enforcement perspective.

By the time this article goes to print, many of our schools will have suspended classes, major events canceled, and everything from church services to person-to-person greetings have been modified to minimize the spread and limit the impact on our medical services as well as those susceptible to the virus.

There is an old saying that you don’t know what you have until it is gone. I think that the measures we are currently taking are the right measures and that, although it may be an inconvenience and in some cases a true financial burden, we must always think of those who are vulnerable to the worst-case outcome and place their welfare above our own.

What I am missing already is the freedom to interact as we have all become accustomed. To not be able to shake a hand or give a hug has been and will continue to be an adjustment.

I have had questions and conversations regarding how law enforcement is weathering the storm. First, I would say that each community is facing its own challenges and we will each react to these challenges in our own way.

We have already seen the best and worst of our society, and I was very proud when I walked into one of our local grocery stores to see that the shelves had not been cleared and how well we have kept our sense of community as well as our sense of humor.

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Much like any other crisis in our lives, we have little control over the obstacle placed in front of us, but we can control how we react to that obstacle. Long after this virus fades into the history books just as those in the past, what will remain are our memories of how we assisted each other and stuck together as a community.

Those of us in emergency services continue to do our job, responding to those who need us. We have met within our circles to implement strategies which will minimize the risk to both our public servants as well as those whom we serve.

We would ask you the community to be patient as we find a balance between the freedoms we hold so dear and the restrictions which will allow us to minimize the impact of this virus.

A few considerations we would ask for are:

• If you are calling for response from either law enforcement or other emergency services, please disclose if anyone in the home is experiencing flu-like conditions. This will assist us in equipping those responding with the appropriate equipment.
• Unless absolutely necessary, please utilize our website or contact us by phone to obtain documents or request for service. Although this goes against our natural instincts, we feel it is appropriate to limit physical contact as much as possible.

It goes without saying that we are still in the business of holding people accountable, so any and all complaints and crimes will of course be responded to and followed up on, including arrests when appropriate. We have plenty of masks and gloves to take care of business. We also have a few cells available for those violators who need to be “quarantined” until their court date.                            

Let’s all work together to get through this challenge and come out on the other side a closer and stronger community.

Matt Joski is Kewaunee County Sheriff.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Let's work together as a community to get through coronavirus challenges