Police & EBOLA; What Should Our Role Be?

42 Comments

According to a recent on-line report by the Daily Mail, New York City cops leave Ebola doctor’s apartment and dump their gloves and masks in a TRASH CAN; a video showed just that; officers removing personal protective equipment (PPE, minimal PPE I will add) and putting it in a waste bin on the street.  The article offers that it is unknown whether or not the officers were actually in the confirmed EBOLA patient’s residence (who was no longer there).

Throwing the PPE away has obviously been questioned, but it sparked a couple of bigger questions for me:

  1. Why on earth would the officers enter the residence to begin with? and,

  2. IF they had any business being there, why were they not properly equipped to do so?

For me, the questionable action of tossing the PPE in the waste bin pales in comparison to these questions.

But that is where Law Enforcement is typically found; holding the bag and being nudged into areas where there is virtually no true duty and even less familiarity.  Police are going to be at risk enough providing security for health care professionals and facilities, and monitoring isolation and quarantine cases if the need ever arises.  There are health care professionals that are much better equipped and trained to venture into genuine warm and hot zones where this deadly disease might be found.

What do you think?  Where does the law enforcement role begin and end in these situations?

 

© 2014 DAVID A. LYONS

42 thoughts on “Police & EBOLA; What Should Our Role Be?”

  1. I completely agree. There are times when those in law enforcement enter into situations that are hazardous to save a life or during an apprehension of a suspect. Those are the inheritant risks of the job. However, when their is a known biological or chemical presence at hand, and law enforcement is not needed due to the above listed circumstances; then those that are better trained and properly equipped should be tasked to remedy the situation.

    1. Agreed. Unless there is a law and order issue associated with these types of matters, police do not have a role in dealing directly with Ebola or any similar biological hazzard.

  2. The Department or Agency that sends in officers to situations like this are responsible for ensuring that the officers responding are properly trained and certified to work in these kind of environments. This also means that a Medical and Decontamination team should have been on site to ensure that these officers followed proper procedures and protocol in this type of scenario. We need to have more Departments and Agencies training and certifying their officers to become CBRNE qualified. Of course, that would mean Departments and Agencies would then be required to create and maintain an Intelligence Section and a CBRNE Team.

  3. David Irvine
    District Unit Commissioner at Boy Scouts of America

    Good question, as we get called to various down and sick people. That is something that should be handled by the department and the CDC of each state and the real likely hood of law enforcement coming in contact with Ebola is just about nil if the US and Hospitals
    Protocols are adhered to.

    23 days ago

  4. Manuel De La Torriente
    Subject Matter Expert

    it all boils down to initial patrol response, asking the right questions, and getting the agency equipped to handle it by rapid response. death investigators have been dealing with TB deaths for years, and proper response is critical.

    22 days ago

  5. Alan Mark
    Emergency Medical Technician at American Medical Response

    It seems like a training issue rather than anything else, no matter what the media is trying to portray. With the possible exception of NYPD’s ESU (who are all EMTs, as I understand it), the rank & file Officers probably have no medical expertise, which would have made them aware of proper disposal techniques for this PPE (Red Isolation bag OR double bag & seal each bag), then take it to a Medical Waste Disposal location (Any Hospital would do)

    24 days ago

  6. Dave Fischer
    advertising consultant at association of retired police officers

    If you have a problem involving a medical issue such as a disease, call a doctor, a surgeon, an EMS worker, BUT, that being said, we in law enforcement should not get involved in handling disease unless properly trained which in most cases we are not. In the NYPD we have no time for this as most officers are too busy fixing car problems for politically connected individuals………..

    21 days ago

  7. Mike Kirk
    Instructor at Corinthian Colleges

    The unfortunate truth is that all too often police are the first responders to all too many things that involve communicable diseases. It is all well and good to say that we should leave everything medical to a doctor but we cannot.
    Police, at the least need to be taught and to understand the importance of practicing universal precautions. A vest will not protect us against tuberculosis, a gun will not fend off SARS or the particular virus du jour.
    Training is key.

    20 days ago

  8. Russell Henry
    Surgical PA/SA/Sen.CST/CVOR

    I have Twenty plus years in medicine/surgery, military police and civilian. I strongly urge you all to rethink an invisible, deadly threat. It should be put into policy for dispatch.

    20 days ago

  9. Ellis (Doc)
    Shift Supervisor at Alaska Department of Corrections

    If we are to talk reality, then the point that has to be made is far more troublesome. Law Enforcement budgets are being cut across the nation. No state has the budgets to deal with new upcoming problems. Federal funding is limited and grossly misused as it is. It has already been said that training is the key and this is fact. So, now lets deal with how to get the man power to the levels they need to be to deal with each problem that arises. But, don’t let words fly until you can deal with the funding issues. It is the sad hard fact to the result we need.

    19 days ago

  10. Ellis (Doc)
    Shift Supervisor at Alaska Department of Corrections

    What troubles me even more then the fact that we know what the solution to our problems are. It is that I know darn well that those in the set of power have to be thinking along the same lines as us simple folk have been thinking, but still they just set and wait. It appears to me that if we continue to just set and wait, other needless deaths will happen. EBOLA is here and it is deadly. It is not racist and cares not of who’s life it destroys. At the rate it is increasing it will reach out and effect all states. SO, I ask you, can we really just set and wait? Far to often does money and budgets become the big player towards the results we seek.

    19 days ag

  11. Dave Fischer
    advertising consultant at association of retired police officers

    PLAIN & SIMPLE………we (law enforcement ) should not be there at all! We are not Doctors, EMS, we are to protect & serve as far as patrol of the streets, not the medical care givers or nurses out there. It’s bad enough we in the NYPD may now have to also be mechanics so we can repair vehicles with defective lights in the street for politically connected individuals, especially if they are connected to the big SCUMBAG, Rev Al, now we have to perform medicals on people? BULLSHIT! When the hell will the city of NY get a Mayor with balls to do the right thing for his police force! I am now waiting to see if the Mayor DeBlowjob will have the NYPD paint Gracie Mansion, what the hell, he has them doing everything else.

    24 days ago

  12. Wayne Walker
    Retired LEO/ Fire Fighter/ EMT/ Diver

    It’s an interesting topic for sure, being an EMT & a LEO at one point, we went in took care of the patient & transferred care to the Ambulance crew. Now if you don’t get the proper info from dispatch, or the victim lies about where they have been.
    I don’t mind asking a patient to put on a mask, for my safety. If there is any chance of that occurring. If you wear the proper ppe, then there shouldn’t be a problem, along with decon outside.
    Still Everyone Above You All Have Valid Points.

    23 days ago

  13. Shawn Holmes
    Detective at Evans Police Department

    I think there is a huge lack of knowledge about this virus from both the aspect of the public and the emergency services sector. A lot of this media hype and fear/anxiety could be alleviated by proper education of the public. 30 sec infomercials between breaks in the primetime shows on the major networks would go a long way to inform the public. The public perception of two police officers throwing away PPE in a public trash can is pretty bad. My understanding of the situation was they were just putting up crime scene tape outside and were not in contact with any potential sources of the virus, but the public perception is the public’s reality. If the public thinks the PPE is infected then their reality is the PPE is infected.

    24 days ago

  14. Chris Onuh
    Security personnel at Nigeria police

    I suggest, the role of police as it concerns this deadly disease is creation of enlightenment campaigns to sensitise people as police are most closer to the masses. Education is key for this Ebola awareness.

    23 days ago

  15. Jim Dudley
    Lecturer in Criminal Justice Studies at San Francisco State University

    As far as policy goes, “If you’re not at the table, you may be on the menu.” I’ve discussed the need for law enforcement to be at the planning table regarding Ebola issues. The unfortunate Texas nurses were the canaries regarding the PPE problems. Law Enforcement officers should understand the severity and importance of good adherence to the hazmat protocols with proper donning and doffing of PPE. It can be literally a life or death circumstance.
    If the situation should get worse in the US, law enforcement will be called upon to provide security at hospitals, dispensing sites, quarantined areas and in guarding prophylaxis medication shipments. Protect the people who will provide the protection.

    24 days ago

  16. Teri Tremper
    Special Investigator at KeyPoint Government Solutions

    Further reporting revealed the police officers had NOT been in the apartment itself, or in contact with anything found therein – it is, however, not politic to be seen dumping personal protective equipment in a trash can, no matter how innocuous it might be. Training should include an awareness of appearances and their effect on public perception.

    23 days ago

  17. Jonathan Adesoji Alao
    Chief Narcotic Agent at National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

    Law enforcement agents should involve in awareness campaign and also organise workshop for their personnels about the danger in Ebola. Suspect or accused should be scrutinized and tested to be Ebola free before interrogation.

    22 days ago

  18. Peter Richardson
    Lecturer at Newcastle College

    Can i suggest this is just yet another in along line of so called fatal diseases to hit the human population, my advice would be to go to the filing cabinet and dust off the operation order for :- A.I.D.S./ Foot & mouth disease/ global warming/ swine flu/ bird flue/ mad cow disease I’m sure the measures wil be exactley the same ?

    22 days ago

  19. Jim Dudley
    Lecturer in Criminal Justice Studies at San Francisco State University

    I think thats a bit too simplistic Peter. Most of those you name dont require the level of PPE required to protect yourself. The severity of those are quite different as well.

    22 days ago

  20. Marilyn Wengert
    OWNER/STYLIST at FINALE HAIR STUDIO

    It is crucial that any implements in contact should be disposed of properly, no matter who is handling it. Today is the time to train those in positions that could come in contact accordingly. If in doubt …. your answer lies there. Better to be trained then untrained when lives could be at risk.

    24 days ago

  21. Kenneth Turner
    Supervisor-Evening Watch at Henry County Board of Commissioners

    The dipchit spouting his angst at the police should consider many things:

    -Officers respond to calls for service and many times they know very little about WHY they are going. They are just responding to a generalized code or signal and the dispatchers don’t always have all the answers.
    -Medical information is privileged under the HIPPA laws and many medical particulars are not known until the officer arrives and then has to respond based on the information he/she obtains at the scene.
    -Medical personnel have not responded appropriately to the Ebola crisis because of the lack of training in a field they particularly work in, so how can anyone expect LEO’s to be properly informed and prepared to respond to this crisis.

    Yes, this crisis is a scary one and that is why we need a travel ban or mandatory quarantines to help contain this virus. I don’t know how you contain the problem if the problem can not be isolated. Training and information are both way behind the curve and we have a long way to go with this problem. Even the professionals in the medical field have not been very thoughtful regarding their actions when they have had direct contact with the patients. We all have to step up our game and have measured responses to this crisis.

    24 days ago

  22. Wayne Rausch
    Latah County Sheriff

    I agree with Kenneth Turner completely. I would also add that trust is needed in any relationship, and based upon the track record of this administration, there is no trust. It is to the point that I personally believe little or nothing that comes from Washington D.C. Whether founded upon incompetence or purposeful misdirection, the result is the same.

    The answer isn’t to openly ridicule professionals who have been poorly trained, informed and supervised, but rather to establish credible leadership through a proven and reliable scientific, systematic approach. Unfortunately, at this point we seem to be on auto pilot.

    Furthermore, we already ask too much from our police. We are continuously expanding our areas of responsibility to the point that what we do the least is what we were initially hired to do: enforce the law. Instead, if we have become medical, mental, civil, pharmaceutical, alcohol, domestic violence counselors required to know more about everything than any other occupation out there. That is until you go to court, where the defense and the judge will be happy to remind you that without the alphabet following your name, you have no legal right to have an opinion about anything!

    Yes, I plan to retire soon and leave this brave new world to the leadership of the next generation. I hope we can inspire some young men and women to step up and lead with passion, integrity, dedication and sincerity.

    24 days ag

  23. Charles Hentz
    Firearms Instructor, Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor

    I wrote an entire article about this issue several weeks ago. Please go to my linkin page and read my post for clarification of the police role in the Ebola crisis.

    4 days ago

  24. christine birdsall
    investigations assistant at Troy Police Department

    The health issue should never come down to police city or sheriff level. and yes Kenneth you are correct! Most of the time, they know little of why they are there; but they are there to assist and protect…

    24 days ago

  25. Jeffrey Vaccaro
    Interim Manager at United Security, Inc. (USI)

    A few days ago the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and The Municipal Police Training Council released guidelines for Law Enforcement. I am sure every state will issue individual guidelines for agencies within their perspective states.

    23 days ago

  26. Frank Chandler
    Former Police Sergeant at Henrico Virginia County Police Department

    You are correct I do not believe police shoule be a panecia for all the country or world problems.however they can be used for problems within thier expertise

    22 days ago

  27. christine birdsall
    investigations assistant at Troy Police Department

    Everyone. A standardized proper procedure manual will be constructed M- whatever number and all states will have to enforce the rules and regulations stipulated, whether it pertains to that state or not…

    22 days ago

  28. Dr. Jeffrey S. Czarnec
    Asst.Dean, Political Science and Criminal Justice, Southern New Hampshire University, COCE

    Unfortunately, law enforcement is already engaged by virtue of State governors ability to invoke mandatory quarantine…which will place the police in the unique position of monitoring suspected carriers.

    22 days ago

  29. Raúl Julio Cervini Sanchez
    Consultor Senior Derecho Penal Económico Guyer & Regules

    The summary of my cv does not show o reflect something important. I was firs Legal Advisor to the General Secretary of OIPC Interpol Dr. Kendall, and old professor of the “Escuela Nacional de Policía de Uruguay” ( Organized Crime- Economic Penal Studies) Placa y Medalla del Senado de Francia:
    Integró el Proyecto de la Secretaría de Viena de Naciones Unidas sobre “La Criminalità Organizzata: Risposta Normativa e i Problemi della Prassi”, En ese marco elabora conjuntamente con el Profesor de la Sorbone Stephane Bacrie el Repport: Convention Contre la Criminalité Trasnationale Organisée, para la Comission del Affaires Etrangeres del Senado de Francia – Senador Relator Dr. André Rouviere, publicado en Repport No. 200 Sénat- Sessiom Ordinaire 2001- 2002-, Paris 31 de enero 2001.

    En reconocimiento de ello y durante una de las Jornadas de Trabajo y Debate en la Escuela de la Bolsa de París, el dicente recibió una placa y medalla de reconocimiento del Senado de Francia con la siguiente inscripción: “Au nom de la Commission des Affaires Étrangéres, de la Défense et des Forces Armées, le SÉNAT au Professeur Dr. Raúl Cervini pour sa contribution adacémique pour appréhender et réprimer la criminalité transnationale organisée.”, Paris, Abril de 2005

    21 days ago

  30. Charles Hentz
    Firearms Instructor, Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor

    I wrote this article several weeks ago
    Having spent 28 years in law enforcement if I tell the reader that when an officer is dealing with the general public and asking them personal questions such as where did you come from, how did you get here, have you been in contact with anyone who may have been sick, when did you enter the country, do you have any identification, etc. We have on occasion been lied to. I hope that does not come as a shock to anyone reading this article. In addition, officers have the unfortunate duty to sometimes restrain by physical force (hands on) folks who do not wish to comply with lawful orders issued by law enforcement. I hope that’s not a shock to anyone reading this either?

    Let’s have the above paragraph stand alone for now and move to the equipment issued, and the training of law enforcement officers where haz-mat is concerned. Most departments have policies in place for officers who come in contact with TB, AIDS, MRSA, Pneumonia, and other contagious diseases. These policies usually dictate officers wear latex gloves, maybe use a face-mask, have a vehicle disinfected with a spray after transporting a sick or diseased person, and making a contagious disease report. Anything more complicated or requiring a higher degree of protection is handed off to Emergency Management, the fire department, or a state haz-mat team.

    Now let’s look at the level of protection used in the interviewing, transporting, treating, quarantine of an Ebola infected person. Everything the CDC has claimed to be sufficient levels of protection so far have been ineffective (or a lie). Caregivers have used filtered breathing masks, eye and face shields, full body haz-mat suits, booties, double layers of latex gloves, secure rooms, use one time and dispose equipment, and De-contamination stations, without avail. We now have healthcare workers who have the disease.

    Now let’s put the three paragraphs all together and look at what is going to happen to our law enforcement officers when they start to come into contact with active Ebola infected people coming into the country from West Africa through the airports, or through the UN-secured porous Southern border. Also, please don’t forget the 3 thousand soldiers and Marines sent to West Africa by our stumble bum leaders in Washington, DC. These soldiers and Marines have wives and children back here who are going to be at risk if their loved ones contract the disease and come home without the proper quarantine procedures in place. In addition having been a Marine I am aware of the equipment Marines and soldiers have to wear when confronting bio-hazard conditions, and you can’t wear that gear without experiencing serious dehydration problems in hot areas like West Africa. There will be protocol violations. In conclusion, our law enforcement professionals are not equipped to handle safely a spread of a disease such as Ebola, and if they are so engaged there will be serious health issues in our law enforcement community.

    1 days ago

  31. David Lyons, MBA
    Author of PoliceBusinessAdvisor.com

    Read your article earlier in the week and it is timely and excellent. 28 years offers so much to the industry. Another topic of discussion could revolve around how we keep people long enough to stay engaged and season. Thanks for sharing!

    21 days ago

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