Opinion
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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Virginia (LifeSiteNews) — Two weeks ago, I saw a man who seemed under the influence knocking on every home in our Fairfax County neighborhood. My mother and I rushed inside to avoid him and locked the door. I decided to call the police. After the emergency dispatcher ascertained my name and address and what was occurring, she asked a series of questions about my likelihood of having COVID. Was I COVID positive? Do I have any COVID-like symptoms? Am I awaiting the results of a COVID test?

As she was asking me these questions, the man was aggressively attempting to turn the handle of our locked door. I became angry with the dispatcher, but the dispatcher insisted she had to ask me the questions. Thankfully the man left our doorstep. Two agreeable policemen who came to the scene told me that they had questioned the man. He had lied to them about having done work for our neighbors in the past. The policemen suspected the man was trying to extort money from homeowners.

I am not sure if the dispatcher sent the police units to my house as she was asking the COVID questions, or if her interrogation caused a delay. But the 30 seconds or so it takes for the questions to be asked and answered could make the difference in a life-or-death situation.

Also, how would the police response differ if they knew a victim had COVID? If there were a scrum, would they try to maintain social distancing as they separated people? Would they make sure the victim is wearing a mask before intervening?

I asked my local elected official, Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw, and the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications what authority oversees the response of emergency dispatchers in Fairfax County. They both confirmed that the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) Medical Director was responsible for mandating the COVID questions. The medical director, whose name does not appear on the county website, reports to the head of the FCFRD, Fire Chief John Butler.

Walkinshaw confirmed that the Department of Pubic Safety Communications, the entity “responsible for fielding 9-1-1 calls” in Fairfax County, was planning to meet with the medical director “to discuss whether those questions should still be asked.”

Distracting rattled people by forcing them to answer superfluous questions in highly tense situations is not a recipe for common-sense public safety. Fairfax County should stop.

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