AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEDIA/PUBLIC RELEASE
DATE: March 19, 2020
TIME:
CASE NUMBER:
INCIDENT TYPE: Immediate changes to Online Reporting
OFFICER SUBMITTING RELEASE: Sgt. Carla Burr-PIO
DETAILS: As a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation, the Amarillo Police Department is now making certain report types online reports ONLY. This means police officers will no longer come out in person to a residence or business on these specific REPORT ONLY calls. These reports are already available to be made online, but effective immediately, the following reports will be ONLINE or PHONE ONLY. For citizens who do not have access to the internet, these reports can be made on the phone. Call the non-emergency police line, 806-378-3038. Tell them the type of report you need to make, and they will get you set up from there with a report taker.
What we want the citizens to understand is that we are making this change to lessen your exposure to others. Our patrol officers will still be responding to in progress calls and will still be in the public and around the public daily. This means our officers will be potentially exposed to someone with Covid-19.
By requiring report only calls to be made online, we can lessen our exposure to people and therefore the public’s potential exposure to the Covid-19 virus overall.
Please remember, that even though an officer is not coming out to your home or business in person to take these reports, they will still be investigated by an investigator or detective. Also remember to give as much information as possible, just as if you were telling the report to a police officer in person. You will be contacted by your investigator or detective once the case has been referred to them. If you have any questions about your case, contact the Amarillo PD criminal investigation division, 806-378-4251.
The Amarillo PD and City of Amarillo are adjusting where needed, to still be able to provide quality service to our citizens and protect you as well. We recognize that all these changes and restrictions are stressful for the entire community. Our goal is to slow the spread and protect as many citizens as possible.
The Amarillo and Canyon area is operating at Coronavirus (COVID-19) Level ORANGE.
There are now 2 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the Amarillo area.
The City of Amarillo is following all CDC and White House guidance and is encouraging all community members to join together to support the White House “15 Days To Slow The Spread” guidance, available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/…/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance.
For more information, please visit www.amarillopublichealth.org.
The following report types will now be online only:
Burglary of a Vehicle-Loose Items
Burglary of a vehicle-Parts/accessories
Burglary of a Habitation-Open Residential Garage/Shed
Credit Card Abuse
Criminal Nonsupport
Debit Card Abuse
Employer/Employee Theft
Forgery
Harassment
Identity Theft
Interference with Child Custody
Lost Gun
Lost Property
Simple Assault
Theft
Theft of Service
Vandalism
Please remember if an incident is in progress, or it is an emergency, call 911. If it is not an emergency, call the non-emergency police line at 806-378-3038.
The link to the Police Department online reporting is: amarillo.gov/departments/public-safety-and-organizational-services/police/reports/online-reporting .
