NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk Police Department is encouraging citizens to use its Citizens Online Reporting System in an effort to reduce patrol officers' potential exposure to COVID-19.
Residents can use the online system to report incidents such as property damage, stolen property, harassment, thefts, and shoplifting.
Officers will also be assigned to the Emergency Operations Center to support dispatchers and answer non-emergency service calls.
Police Chief Larry D. Boone said the move is a way to support social distancing.
"As Chief of Police, I had to find a way to still provide optimal service while reducing the chances officers and community members could be exposed to the Coronavirus,” Boone said in a news release.
“Utilizing our resources in line with technology will help us to do just that.”
Police will still continue to respond to calls for service, especially serious crimes and reports of missing or endangered individuals.