PRESS RELEASE

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in vast modifications recently to operations
throughout the private and public sectors. The Ukiah Police Department will also be taking
precautions to ensure that our officers and civilian staff, as well as the public, remain protected.
We will be implementing new procedures to ensure the health and safety of our community.

The Ukiah Police Department will continue to receive and respond to calls for service,
however, we will change the manner in which some of these calls will be handled. Dispatchers
will be evaluating non-emergency and non-priority calls, and when appropriate will arrange for
follow-up contact by telephone from an officer or other staff member.

Generally, we will be taking most non-priority reports and addressing appropriate law
enforcement needs with the public by telephone. Officers will still respond in-person to
emergencies and in-progress calls associated with a present risk to person or property. Our
officers will still work to deter and prevent criminal activity through routine patrol activities and
by continuing to provide a public presence.

The Police Department’s front lobby will be closed to the public for the foreseeable
future. We are asking the community to consider telephoning the Department to request law
enforcement services, rather than responding to the Police Department in-person. When
possible these needs will be met by telephone or by scheduling an appointment. To speak with
an officer or report a crime, please call the Communications Center at 463-6262. For records
requests and most other needs, please call the Front Office at 463-6242.

The Police Department’s smaller, night entrance lobby will remain open 24 hours with
immediate access to Police Dispatch available by utilizing the telephone in that lobby.
The latest information on COVID-19 can be accessed at the City of Ukiah’s website, at
http://www.cityofukiah.com/coronavirus/. Additionally, that site contains links to the latest
information from the County of Mendocino, the Ukiah Unified School District, and the State of
California.

The hard-working members of the Ukiah Police Department remain committed to our
values of Safety, Professionalism, and Community Service, and to providing the City of Ukiah
the highest quality of law enforcement services. We will continue to serve the community and
we appreciate your patience and understanding as we all progress through these
unprecedented times and unique challenges.

Prepared by Justin Wyatt – Chief of Police