The following is a statement issued March 17 by The Saugeen Shores Police Service.

The Saugeen Shores Police Service continues to receive updates from federal, provincial, county and local agencies regarding the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The Saugeen Shores Police Service is, as always, committed to the safety and well-being of everyone in our community and the health and well-being of our members. There has been no disruption in the service we provide to our community, but we are planning for contingencies that may include impacts on our response to non-emergent calls for service.

The Saugeen Shores Police Service will be making the following changes to protect staff and members of the public to minimize the transmission of the virus:

When you call dispatch services you will be asked to go through a screening process regarding COVID-19 health risks. We understand that this may cause concerns, but this is for the safety of our members and the public.

We ask members of the public to avoid attending the Saugeen Shores Police Service headquarters unless absolutely necessary. The front door to the Police Headquarters will remain open. Access to the main lobby of the Police Headquarters will be restricted. For Police assistance please use the courtesy phone inside the front door which will connect you with police dispatch for assistance. If permitted to access the main lobby of Police Headquarters you may be subject to a non-intrusive screening process.

You may see Saugeen Shores Police Service officers wearing protective equipment like gloves and masks. This will be a precautionary measure for their own safety.

To ensure our members and the community we serve risks are minimized as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic some non-emergency calls for service may be processed over the phone instead of having an officer attend in person. This will be managed on a case by case basis.

The Saugeen Shores Police Service would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding. There is absolutely no disruption in the day to day activities of the Saugeen Shores Police Service and we will continue to provide service to the community of Saugeen Shores.