ROCHESTER — The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office announced precautionary operational changes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective March 22, the sheriff’s office will limit access to the administration building and the jail, said a news release from the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office issued the following changes.

Calls for Service:

Deputies will respond to all emergency and in-progress calls. Non-emergency calls that no not require a physical presence will be handled over the phone or by email. The sheriff’s office will patrol as normal.

Deputies may wear latex gloves and a mask. They will maintain a safe interview distance of at least six feet. In the event of an arrest, offenders will be taken into custody and transported to the Fulton County Jail.

Lockouts:

Opening locked vehicles will only occur in emergency situations such as a child locked in a car.

Title Checks:

Until further notice title checks will be obtained at a branch of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Copies of Reports:

Crash reports are available at www.buycrash.com or crashdocs.org.

To request a copy of an incident report, call the records department at (574) 224-5629 or email Amber Moolenaar at [email protected]. Please include names, date of the incident, type and location of the incident.

Handgun Permits:

Begin the application process at www.in.gov/isp/firearms.html. The sheriff’s office will need a copy of a fingerprint receipt, a copy fo the applicant’s drivers license and money for the permit. Call (574) 224-5629 for an appointment to process the permit.

Tax Warrants:

All tax warrants may still be paid. Call Jodi Miller at (574) 224-5621. Miller will provide the needed information.

Inmate visitation and deposits:

All inmate visitation is suspended until further notice. Visits may be conducted via phone. The jail lobby kiosk will remain open for deposits on an inmate’s phone account or inmate trust account.

Arrestees and court:

The Fulton County Courts and Jail will fully exercise video arraignment procedures as necessary. While court proceedings require the presence of the defendant, via video, public access to courtrooms have been suspended at the discretion of the court.

Fulton County Commissioners have restricted access to many offices for those who need to conduct business within the county. Individuals will be allowed to do so on a case by case basis by making an appointment with the respective county office. That office will determine if the issue warrants personal interaction. Notices will be posted on building doors with phone numbers to reach someone to discuss business needs.