Rehoboth Beach Police Are Prepared for COVID-19

In response to recent media inquiries and public concern, the members of the Rehoboth Beach Police Department want to assure both citizens and visitors that we are prepared to face the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  We share the concerns of our community and understand the importance of a unified response.  We remain vigilant in our mission of safeguarding the lives and property of the people we serve, reducing the incidence and fear of crime, and working with our diverse community to improve our quality of life even in the face trying times such as these.  

The Rehoboth Beach Police Department has taken steps to protect its members to ensure we remain at full-strength to serve our community.  We have enacted numerous measures to accomplish this, such as staggering shifts, reducing the use of shared patrol cars, restricting access within police department facilities, the utilization of machine washable uniforms, and frequent sanitation of our facilities and equipment.    

As we face this pandemic, we ask for our community's understanding as we have made modifications to our procedures for handling calls for service in order to protect both our members and our citizens.  We are encouraging our officers, in non-emergency situations, to conduct investigations via telephone and email as much as possible.  When face to face encounters are necessary, we are encouraging officers to do so outdoors while maintaining social distancing.  Most importantly, in emergency situations, our officers will respond as they always have with the safety of our citizens and visitors as their primary concern. 

We ask that every member of our community do their part to bring this pandemic to a swift end by sheltering in place unless it is essential to leave their homes.  We remind everyone that within our jurisdiction the current State of Emergency is a primary focus.  Our officers will strictly enforce restrictions against public gatherings, the operation of non-essential businesses, and the closure of our beach and Boardwalk to everyone, even those exercising and/or walking their dogs.  We do this, not out of malice, but under the guidance of our State’s prominent healthcare experts to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our community.  

Lastly, we would like express our gratitude to anyone doing their part to end this pandemic and our appreciation to our community for their understanding during this time of concern and change.  We remain steadfast in knowing that this is only temporary.