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The Suffolk Police Department is changing the ways it responds to non-violent incidents due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a city press release.

“The new response procedures are designed to reduce citizens’ and officers’ exposure to the coronavirus,” the release stated. “Further, officers will be using social distancing and personal protective equipment to limit contact as much as possible in accordance with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

Police may not respond to non-violent offenses, the news release stated. Incidents that can be adequately handled by telephone reporting will not have an officer response.

Citizens can call 923-2350, option 8, to make telephone reports.

“Responses to serious incidents and threats to public safety will continue to receive priority responses,” the press release stated.