HELENA — In response to the COVID-19 virus, the Helena Police Department (HPD) will be implementing changes on how they respond to some types of incidents.
Effective immediately, officers will be determining which calls require an officer to respond in person and have direct contact with the complainant. If an officer does not need to respond, they will contact the caller and gather information over the phone.
Officers will still respond to crimes in progress, accidents, crimes of violence, and others that require an in person response.
Dispatch or the officers themselves may request a caller meet with the officer outside of the residence.
HPD are also suspending enforcement of the City of Helena ordinance on abandoned vehicles. “With more people working from home and self-isolating, vehicles are remaining parked longer than the 72 hours listed in the abandoned vehicle ordinance. We do not want to burden folks already stressed by the COVID-19 situation to have to move their vehicles to avoid being cited,” an HPD Facebook post read.
When Lewis and Clark County Public Health recommends that the residents of Helena return to their normal day to day activities, HPD will then resume the enforcement of the ordinance.
Other parking ordinances not related to abandoned vehicles and downtown parking will continue to be enforced. However, paid downtown Helena parking is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 situation.
Effective Tuesday March 23, 2020, until further notice, walk up service at the records window in the Law and Justice Center will be suspended.
Citizens that need to register as Sexual or Violent Offenders, need DNA taken as a requirement of a court judgement, are requesting police or sheriff department records, or need to contact our records section are requested to call 447-8469.
