Question

What do you believe the role of law enforcement should be in a public health emergency and why

Answer 1

Depending on the threat, the role of law enforcement may include enforcing public health orders (e.g., quarantines or travel restrictions), securing the perimeter of contaminated areas, securing health care facilities, controlling crowds, investigating suspected biological terrorism scenes, and protecting national stocks of vaccines or other drugs. In a large-scale incident, such as a pandemic, law enforcement resources will quickly become overwhelmed, and law enforcement officials will need to balance their resources and efforts between these new responsibilities and the demands of day-to-day service. All this may have to be accomplished with a significantly reduced workforce, as officers and their families may become infected and ill, and some may have to be accomplished.

To prepare a law enforcement agency for any type of public health emergency (e.g. an epidemic or bioterrorist attack), education and plans for controlling infectious disease need to be a regular part of the activities of the department. Officers need basic education on the biology of infectious diseases, modes of transmission (such as person-to-person and vector-borne) and mechanisms for the entry of communicable diseases (eyes, nose, and so on).This education involves working with a local hospital or an occupational health and safety program.

Departments could also include a substantial short course to prevent exposure to infectious diseases on - the-job through basic precautionary measures and the proper use of personal protective equipment. Over time, the use of antimicrobial gloves during close personal contact, frequent hand washing, and proven strategies for disinfection and decontamination will become second nature through repeated exposure to the points of instruction.