Calgary police don’t plan to make masks mandatory

CALGARY (660 NEWS) — Calgary police members won’t be required to wear masks when they conduct a traffic stop or when they are out in public, but are asked to evaluate each situation they face.

Since the pandemic started, offices have been provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and given guidance throughout COVID-19.

“If they can’t keep the two-metre radius distance they are supposed to dawn their mask, PPE, glasses, and gloves,” Superintendent Steve Barlow said.

For most traffic stops officers don’t need to put on PPE because they can maintain public health orders.

“Because our members don’t have their faces right in the vehicles, the members are usually able to keep that distance because we will have people give their documents to us through the window and we’ll be able to keep that distance,” Barlow said.

“If an officer at a traffic stop believes that they may have to arrest that person then we ask them to put their PPE on for the protection of themselves and the public.”

It’s mainly face-to-face interactions where officers run into a situation where they have to put on a mask, Barlow added.

Offices are also required to evaluate themselves before they come into work and determine if they are fit for duty.

“They make great decisions every single day,” Barlow said.

“We have not had a positive case based on being able to tie it back to work.”

If someone approaches an officer and are not maintaining two-metre distance, officers are provided with extra masks to hand out.

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