Law enforcement system in Southwest Florida adjusts to help prevent spread of COVID-19

Alongside businesses, universities and the public, the law enforcement system in Southwest Florida is adjusting to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  

Arrest protocols for the Naples and Fort Myers police departments and sheriff’s offices in Collier and Lee counties have been modified because of the virus.  

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will issue notices to appear in lieu of making physical arrests for nonviolent offenses as part of the response to COVID-19, said public affairs manager Karie Partington.  

An offense is considered violent if a weapon or threat of a weapon are used or if physical harm occurs, Partington said. 

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A notice to appear is a document that tells a defendant when to appear in court. Failure to appear on the designated date can lead to an arrest warrant.  

Officers will have discretion based on the facts and seriousness of offenses, Partington said. 

Arrests protocols for the Naples Police Department and Lee County Sheriff’s Office have been modified and are in line with adjustments made by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.  

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Extra cleanings are taking place inside the jails in Collier County and intake screening procedures and monitoring of inmates have been enhanced under the threat of COVID-19, Partington said.  

All nonessential inmate movement at the Lee County Jail have been stopped, while jail staff and inmates will be consistently trained and reminded of preventative hygiene, according to a release from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.  

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Other adjustments at the Lee County Jail include replacing face-to-face meetings between inmates and attorneys with video conferences and closing the jail’s visitation center. Video visitation of inmates using home computers, smartphones or laptops will continue. 

Court appearances in Lee County have been reduced and when possible will be replaced by video appearances. The jail has already established a quarantine plan should that become necessary in Lee County, according to a release from the sheriff’s office.  

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Both sheriff’s offices, the Naples Police Department and the Fort Myers Police Department are asking the public to step outside while interacting with officers in non-emergency situations to limit exposure in enclosed spaces.  

Both sheriff’s offices are asking the public to report crimes or crashes online when possible to limit interaction. 

The Fort Myers Police Department will take reports of minor crimes over the phone. 

Minor crimes include past-occurred crimes, and lost property, according to a post on the department's Facebook page. 

The City of Sanibel Police Department announced Wednesday it will be handling many non-emergency calls, such as identity theft, past occurred theft, criminal mischief, lost property, property damage and past occurred neighborhood disputes, over the phone. 

Dispatchers will be asking callers if they are exhibiting flu-like symptoms and asking parties involved to step outside before officers arrive to maintain safe social distances, according to a statement from the Sanibel Police Department. 

The Fort Myers Police Department announced procedural changes Thursday to reduce the risk of exposure of its employees and the public to COVID-19. 

Similar to the Sanibel Police Department, the Fort Myers Police Department will take reports of minor crimes over the phone and have dispatchers screen callers and ask them to step outside before officers arrive. 

The police department's lobby will close until further notice, according to a press release from the Fort Myers Police Department. 

The court system is also adjusting to the threat of COVID-19. 

In a statewide order issued Friday afternoon by Florida Chief Justice Charles Canady, grand jury proceedings, jury selection proceedings, and criminal and civil jury trials were suspended for two weeks. 

The order took effect Monday and is in place until March 27 and a subsequent order from the Chief Justice may further extend the timeline.  

The order means jurors do not have to appear for jury duty, however courthouses in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, which includes Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry Counties, remain open. 

Supplemental deep cleaning throughout the circuit has been added to assist with the prevention of the spread of COVID-19, according to a release from the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.  

Courtroom attendance within all courtrooms of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit will be limited to attorneys, parties and necessary witnesses although exceptions can be made by a presiding judge, according to the release.  

In addition, all family law evidentiary hearings may be cancelled or held by phone at the  discretion of the presiding judge. Domestic violence injunction hearings will continue as scheduled, according to the release.