NEWPORT – The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office announced changes Friday to protect jail inmates, staff and the public from possible spread of the coronavirus. For now, the changes will last no longer than 30 days.
Sheriff Curtis Landers announced that effective immediately the county jail will only keep suspects arrested for serious crimes and individuals “who pose an extreme risk to the community.”
Landers said all other suspects will be cited and released to appear in court. He said pre-trial specialists will help monitor those cited to reduce their risk of reoffending.
“The reason for taking these precautions is to limit the opportunity of the COVID-19 from entering the facility which could cause devastating effects to deputies and other adults in custody,” Landers said in a news release.
Lincoln County currently does not have any confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
In addition, Landers said, the department’s Patrol Division is changing how it operates to reduce the risk of exposure to deputies. Patrol deputies will continue to respond to emergency calls and situations that jeopardize public safety and will continue patrolling communities and roads, he said. But deputies will use telephones or take reports online “for non-emergency calls that do not require an in-person response.”
The county animal shelter, which is operated by the sheriff’s department, is stopping “in-person services” at the facility. Landers said “surrender and adoption services” are being stopped temporarily but that animal services deputies will continue to respond to calls for service.
People wanting to license their dog can download the application online and mail it to the shelter, Landers said, or simply call the shelter at 541-265-6610.
The sheriff’s office is also postponing jail and office tours, ride-a-longs, and other office events for one month. It is temporarily stopping appointments for people seeking a concealed handgun permit and for fingerprinting services, Landers said.
