From 10-15 COVID-19 police calls per day

These days, from 10 to 15 calls per day qualified as COVID-19-related, “necessitate a police displacement”, says Chateauguay police sergeant Jean-Philippe Hurteau whose department services this city as well as Beauharnois, Lery and St. Isidore. Two factors are influencing the number of complaints for non-respect of Public Health directives. “The more the weather is nice, the more people go out and by that same fact have the tendency to gather together, thus causing more calls (to police),” Hurteau indicates. The messages from the government and Public Health seem to be heard. “The calls are going to slightly be diminished after an announcement presenting restrictions,” the spokesman notes. Quebec Premier Francois Legault reminded during his daily press scrum on Thursday that the recalcitrants are exposing themselves to fines of between $1,000 and $6,000. He asked the police to be less tolerant considering that it consists of a question of “life and death.” The majority conforms Sergeant Hurteau emphasizes that the “very large majority of citizens respect the directives and collaborate with the authorities so that this crisis can be as short as possible.” “We want to take advantage of this moment to congratulate them,” he says. The police are encouraging the citizens to “not hesitate to contact them if they witness an infraction or if they notice dangerous situations in connection with the Public Health recommendations.” “We want to remind all citizens of the police functions that their police service is and will be present for everyone throughout this crisis without precedent. Our patrols will be intensified over the entire territory and our police will be ready to intervene,” expressed the sergeant.