Appleton police officers are divided into different groups to prevent coronavirus from spreading through the department.
Chief Todd Thomas says they have four teams, with 19 officers each. They rotate, and work six days in a row.
Thomas says if one of the officers does get sick, and a shift needs to be put on leave, they’ll back-fill it. He thinks the community won’t even notice the difference.
Each patrol officer will keep the same squad car for all six days. The department then sprays each car, using a special cleaner from the fire department, before turning them over to the next team.
Thomas says they got the idea from Wausau police. The department then worked out the details with the union.




